The Conquest of the The Conquest of the AmericasAmericas

North and South America before North and South America before and after European contactand after European contact

The Americas before Columbus

Before the Europeans came…Before the Europeans came…

Over 60 million people populated North Over 60 million people populated North and South America, more people than in and South America, more people than in EuropeEurope

Very advanced civilizations existed in the Very advanced civilizations existed in the American SW, Mexico, and PeruAmerican SW, Mexico, and Peru

Population was largely disease-freePopulation was largely disease-freeWarfare was constant, many American Warfare was constant, many American

societies developed strong rivalriessocieties developed strong rivalries

Why Were the Americans so Healthy?

• Their ancestors had to cross the land bridge, only the strongest and healthiest survived

• The native populations were isolated from the rest of the world

• Few diseases existed naturally in the Americas

The Taino PeopleThe Taino People Lived on islands in the Lived on islands in the

Caribbean, split into five Caribbean, split into five kingdomskingdoms

Divided into 2 social Divided into 2 social classes: commoners and classes: commoners and noblesnobles

Fairly peaceful (had one Fairly peaceful (had one main enemy) and very main enemy) and very productiveproductive

Used gold for Used gold for ornamentation, jewelryornamentation, jewelry

Head a table, healthy Head a table, healthy population that lived in population that lived in small villagessmall villages

Arrival of Christopher Columbus

• His crew was sick when they arrived, didn’t leave ship for more than one month

• Columbus named them “Taino” because it means good and noble • The Taino were friendly toward the Europeans, also very generous• This would not last

What happened to the Taino?What happened to the Taino? Columbus and crew initially treated Taino people well, Columbus and crew initially treated Taino people well,

but then began demanding tributes from all Taino over but then began demanding tributes from all Taino over age 14 age 14

When Taino felt they were being used by Europeans, When Taino felt they were being used by Europeans, they stopped being so generousthey stopped being so generous

Columbus’ crew began attacking Taino who refused to Columbus’ crew began attacking Taino who refused to give them what they wantedgive them what they wanted

They forced the Taino to work in the mines and in the They forced the Taino to work in the mines and in the fieldsfields

Many Taino died in the fields or mines, some committed Many Taino died in the fields or mines, some committed suicidesuicide

Taino also became sick with Old World diseasesTaino also became sick with Old World diseases InfluenzaInfluenza MeaslesMeasles SmallpoxSmallpox

Influenza

• Symptoms: weakness, fatigue, headaches, coughing, nausea, vomiting, runny/stuffy nose

• If it is a new strain or if you have not been exposed to virus before, it can be deadly

MeaslesMeasles

Symptoms: fever, Symptoms: fever, coughing, runny nose, coughing, runny nose, red eyes, splotchy red eyes, splotchy rashrash

If never exposed to If never exposed to illness, it can be fatal illness, it can be fatal

Children and the Children and the elderly are the most elderly are the most likely to die from the likely to die from the diseasedisease

Smallpox

• Fever, fatigue, headache, severe rash (eventually puss-filled lesions), delirium

• Much more serious for people with no exposure to disease

• Fatal for many, especially children

The AztecsThe Aztecs

The Aztecs

• Population of Mexico before European arrival: 28 million• Aztec capital: Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City); beautiful and well

planned, built in the middle of a lake• Tenochtitlan had roughly 200,000 inhabitants• Aztecs built a powerful empire by conquering weaker groups, but the

conquered people were not treated well• Popular Aztec leader was Moctezuma, who ruled most of Mexico

Arrival of CortezArrival of Cortez

Came from Spain with 600 men, 16 horses, a few cannons, but gained Came from Spain with 600 men, 16 horses, a few cannons, but gained supporters from people the Aztecs conqueredsupporters from people the Aztecs conquered

Initial relations between Cortez and Aztecs were shaky at best, and many Initial relations between Cortez and Aztecs were shaky at best, and many Aztec nobles did not like the large Spanish army staying in their capitalAztec nobles did not like the large Spanish army staying in their capital

Eventually Aztecs forced Spaniards out of city, but Moctezuma was taken Eventually Aztecs forced Spaniards out of city, but Moctezuma was taken hostagehostage

Cortez and his men laid siege to Tenochtitlan, captured and demolished the Cortez and his men laid siege to Tenochtitlan, captured and demolished the citycity

Mexican population dropped to less than 1 million within 100 yearsMexican population dropped to less than 1 million within 100 years

The Incas

Incan CivilizationIncan Civilization Very advanced society with Very advanced society with

strong army, fought constantly strong army, fought constantly with neighborswith neighbors

Capital city was Cuzco, high Capital city was Cuzco, high up in the Andes Mountainsup in the Andes Mountains

Civilization united by 12,000 Civilization united by 12,000 miles of roads through miles of roads through mountains mountains

Agricultural, farmed on Agricultural, farmed on terraced ledgesterraced ledges

Leader was Atahualpa, who Leader was Atahualpa, who took over after winning a civil took over after winning a civil war against his brotherwar against his brother Was not very popularWas not very popular

Pizarro and the Incas

• Spanish got along well with Atahualpa at first

• Pizarro wanted extreme amounts of gold to ship back to Spain, but Incas refused

• Pizarro kidnapped Atahualpa, demanded huge ransom for his return

• Incas paid ransom, Spaniards killed Atahualpa anyway

• Spaniards eventually conquered Incan heartland, native population plummeted

The AftermathThe Aftermath The Native The Native

Population Population dropped by over dropped by over 90% within 100 90% within 100 years of the first years of the first European European contactcontact

Europeans Europeans began to began to establish establish colonies and colonies and harvest harvest resources to resources to send back to the send back to the New WorldNew World

How could the Europeans so easily conquer the native

peoples?• 1. disease• 2. military superiority• 3. division among the natives