MYTH vs REALITY

Americans have a tendency to mythologize their ancestors…

• Some of these myths include: – Washington cutting down the cherry tree– Pilgrims introducing the first Thanksgiving– All of these stories are FALSE!

• Much of what you may think you know about Columbus is probably untrue..– We don’t even know exactly what Columbus looked like! None

of the paintings of him were done in his lifetime. – We don’t even know his actual name! He went by several

names, including Cristoforo Colombo.

• MYTH– Columbus sailed across the Atlantic to prove that the

earth was round.• Probably originated in a biography of Columbus written by

Washington Irving in 1828.

• TRUTH– Most Europeans at the time knew that the world

was round based on simple observation• One can see its curve simply by looking at the horizon or

the earth’s shadow on the moon!

• MYTH– Many think that Columbus would have died as rich and celebrated hero.

• TRUTH– He was looking for a new trade route for India… and

did not succeed.– He actually died in disgrace!

• In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue.

• By 1525 no Arawak was left alive…

• Why were the Spanish able to conquer the Native Americans so easily despite being outnumbered?– Try to come up with three

reasons.

• It would be unfair to blame Columbus for slavery…– Many cultures practiced

slavery before Columbus’ time.

• It would also be unfair to blame Columbus for the diseases brought to the Americas– Just like during the Black Death, people didn’t understand

medicine and immunity. Europeans were just as mystified about the transmission of disease as the Native Americans!

Other Explorers• Explorers looked for

better trade routes in this newly discovered hemisphere.

• Spain and Portugal were main competitors!!– Treaty of Tordesillas- In

1493, the pope drew an imaginary line to divide the globe into two spheres- half for Portugal and half for Spain.

Results of Exploration in the New World

• Conquistador = Spanish for ‘conqueror’• Famous Spanish Conquistadors:– Hernando Cortez defeated the Aztec Empire

(Mexico).– Francisco Pizzaro defeated the Inca Empire

(Ecuador and Chile)

• Soldiers traveled to the New World for GOD, GOLD, and GLORY.

Encomienda System• Colonists were granted

land and the labor of native population in exchange for moving to a new land to represent their country.– Native slaves were often

mistreated and overworked.

IMPERIALISM• Now the Europeans have found all of this new land,

most of which is considered to be undeveloped…

• So begins a race to control it all:– Who can build the biggest Empire??

• What might be an advantage of having more land?– More resources, more people, more control!