Post on 18-Jan-2016
The Atlantic WorldBefore Columbus
Focus QuestionWhen does U.S. History begin?
One View“Three Separate histories collided in
the Western Hemisphere half a millennium ago, and American history began”
--Edward Countryman, 1996
Three Worlds MeetNative AmericansWest AfricansEuropeans
Little interaction prior to 1492
Native AmericansArrive around 45,000 years ago
Traveled across the Bering Land Bridge
Cut off at end of the Ice AgeQuickly spread throughout the
hemisphere.54 million peopleSpoke 2000 languages
Early Native AmericansSome 2 to 15 million lived in the U.S. and Canada in
1500Spoke 375 languagesLived in a variety of
climates
Cultural GroupsNorth America divided into 8 major
groups
Shared PatternsTrade Links connected peoples
Permanent Settlements knownKnown trade routes existed
Religious BeliefsNatural World inhabited by spiritsRituals tied into daily routines
Shared Patterns (2)Land Usage
The land could not be ownedLand was owned by all and used by allCould not be sold
Shared Patterns (3)Society revolved about the extended family
Many nations were matrilinearHouse and property owned by womenFamilies traced through the mother
Nations often divided intobands and villages
Eastern WoodlandsSaw population increase in 1400s
“Three Sister” AgricultureMaize (Corn)BeansSquash
Enough food to support population
Eastern Woodlands (2)Highly decentralized society
Scattered villagesGender roles split
Women farmedMen hunted, fished,
and cleared the land
West AfricaSaw robust cultures in the 1400s
SonghaiControlled Sahara trade Muslim
KongoMaintained trade links with Southern AfricaConverted to Christianity
Trade Trade linked West Africa to the outside
worldBegan to trade with Portuguese
exploring the coastAfricans provided food, water, gold,
cloth and peopleEuropeans provided metal goods,
cloth, and guns
EuropeEarlier customs weakeningGrowth of scientific reasoningRise of the Nation-StateReformation saw a splintering
of Christianity
Desire for WealthLacked resources in Europe
Required to look overseasSpice trade dominated by Turks and
ItaliansWestern Europeans looked to the
Atlantic