Lecture One:Disrupting an “Old World,” to Create a “New

World.”

#1 The World and Water

#2 European Exploration and Colonization

#3 Indigenous Communities in North America

#1: The World- 15th Century

By 1500•Geo-political map: trade, conflict, and disease•Spice World: Japan, China, Molucca Islands, Borneo, Sumatra, India•Gunpowder Empires: Ottoman Empire, Portuguese, Spanish, Safavid, Russia•Rodolfo Acuna: Occupied America: Spain in North America: violent disruption

15th and 16th Centuries•Era of Western global exploration, expansion •Warfare- land and religion-played out in “New World”- Spanish verses English•Foundations for “contact and conquest”- Africa, Meso-American states

Water: Cross-Cultural Interactions• Commercial

• New trade routs= increase in port cities• Merchant houses in Europe• Mercantilism

• Network of over-seas European colonies• Supported by war

• Triangle Trade= enslavement in New World• Cultural- Religion and Ideas• Biological

• Food crops, animal stocks, disease (The Columbian Exchange)• European mariners

• New sea routes to markets of Asia• Direct contact with sub-Saharan Africa and Asia• Gave rise to early modern history 1500-1800 (the Atlantic World)• 15th century, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch trading posts on coast of West

Africa• “Liquid foundation”- empire building/ conquest of “New World”

#2: Motives and Support Systems for European Exploration

• Motives• Economics• Religion• Adventure/Fame

• Occurred• Emergence of centralized European monarchies• Sufficient wealth to finance endeavors• New technologies: maps, charts, ships, compass, knowledge of winds

• Support System• Transportation networks

• Silk Roads in China• Caravans in Sahara desert• Sea-lanes: Water: Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins

Europeans and the Columbian Exchange

Exploration and Colonization in the “New” World

China: Indian Ocean Basin

Portuguese: Africa’s west coast 15th century•Goals: expand Christianity/ Commercial activities•Colonization of Atlantic Islands•Indian Ocean trade

• Muslim intermediaries• Portuguese ships with cannons=European imperialism

•Christopher Columbus: plan rejected by Portuguese/sponsored by Spain

Spain: Violent intrusion into Americas•Conquistadors- 1519- Hernan Cortes•Encomienda System•Natives became Spanish subjects•Catholic Missionaries: “a double-edged sword”

• Protestant Reformation intensified national rivalries•Decline of Indigenous population- import of enslaved Africans• Results of Spanish conquest

Historical Snapshot: The Explorer and the LadyHernando de Soto and Lady Cofitachequi

1539- Chiefdom of Coftachequi

No Gifts

Pearls and Diplomatic Maneuverings

Desoto and the Tombs of the Dead

Impact of Invasion

Spanish Legacy

#3: Indigenous Societies

Physical Environments

Three Types of Regional Cultures

Matrilineal and Patriarchy

Three Eras:•Paleo-Indian era•Archaic Era•Pre-Columbian Era

Indigenous Communities Encounter European Invader

Christopher Columbus- “Children of Nature.”

Gender Assumptions of Indigenous Women

Squaws

Convinced of their own superiority…

4 Consequences of Contact

Images of Indigenous Women

Pocahontas: The Noble Indian Princess

Creation of the Squaw

Media and Stereotypes