1. The Americas and Europe
Objectives:
Describe the ancient cultures in the Americas.
Identify the diverse Native American groups in North America.
Understand European societies of the 1400’s and the forces that led them to undertake exploration.

2. Ancient Cultures in the Americas
Where did the first Americans come from?
The first Americans arrived around 22,000 years ago
Bering-Strait Land Bridge Theory
How did the first Americans survive?
The first Americans were nomads who survived by hunting big game
If the first Americans were nomads, how did civilization begin?
Around 12,000 years ago, temperatures began to warm
As the climate grew warmer, large animals no longer thrived
Early Americans became hunter gatherers
Between 10,000 and 5,000 years ago, agriculture developed in central Mexico
Early Americans began to plant crops
The development of agriculture allowed peoples to settle in one place

3. Native American Societies
Early empires develop in the South
Maya – Yucatan Peninsula
Aztec – Mexico
Inca – South America
Societies arise in North America
Anasazi – Southwest US
Native American society was characterized by diversity
Tribes adapted their way of life to the environments they lived in
Pueblo - Built multi-story homes out of adobe
Iroquois - Lived in the forest and hunted fish and game

4. Native American Societies
What were some of the common characteristics that existed between Native American tribes?
Land was not a commodity to be traded or sold
Nearly all Native American tribes viewed the natural world as filled with spirits
The family was the basic unit of organization in Native American tribes

5. European Societies of the 1400’s
European societies were based on social hierarchy
Feudalism
Very little social mobility
Christianity shaped the outlook of the European world
The power of the Church influenced politics
The Crusades
The Crusades had two important consequences that encouraged European exploration:
Opened up trade routes to Asia exposing Europeans to luxuries from the East
Weakened the power of European nobles allowing monarchs to consolidate power

6. European Societies of the 1400’s
During the 1400’s, four major nations were taking shape in Europe: Portugal, Spain, France, and England
Interested in finding an alternative to the overland route to Asia
Fueled by stories of wealth from the East
Marco Polo (1200)
Prominent Explorers of the Age of Exploration
Prince Henry the Navigator – Monarch of Portugal who financed voyages of discovery
Bartolomeu Dias – Portuguese explorer who was the first to reach the southern tip of Africa
Vasco da Gama – Portuguese sailor who reached India by sailing around the southern tip of Africa

7. European Societies of the 1400’s
What were some of the factors that helped to fuel the Age of Exploration?
Christianity
Strong desire to spread the teachings of Christ
The Renaissance (1400’s)
Spirit of inquiry influenced European explorers
Desire for Wealth
Sailing Technology
Arab navigation
Cartography
Astrolabe
Compass
Caravel – A lighter more maneuverable ship that was able to sail against the wind