FLASHCARD 14: THE AMERICAS & THE AGE OF EXPLORATION

THE OLMECS (1500 BC - 400 BC)

The earliest Mesoamerican civilizations were located near the Gulf of Mexico.

Two key areas are San Lorenzo & La Venta.

Enormous Stone Heads have been found that may have been portraits of leaders.

Farmers used the slash-and-burn technique of farming to create more farmland.

THE MAYA (A.D. 300- A.D. 900)

Located on the Yucatan peninsula (southern Mexico)

Not a unified empire, but several powerful city-states.

Mayan kings ran the government & religion (theocracy)

It is unclear what happened to them.

THE OLMECS (1500 BC - 400 BC)

The earliest Mesoamerican civilizations were located near the Gulf of Mexico.

Two key areas are San Lorenzo & La Venta.

Enormous Stone Heads have been found that may have been portraits of leaders.

Farmers used the slash-and-burn technique of farming to create more farmland.

THE MAYA (A.D. 300- A.D. 900)

Located on the Yucatan peninsula (southern Mexico)

Not a unified empire, but several powerful city-states.

Mayan kings ran the government & religion (theocracy)

It is unclear what happened to them.

MAYAN CULTURE

Mayan kings believed they had to please the gods with human sacrifices.

Mayan kings also performed a ritual known as bloodletting to show their loyalty.

Created one of the only completely independent writing systems in world history.

Created an accurate calendar, to predict eclipses, schedule religious ceremonies, and determine when to plant and harvest crops.

AZTEC EMPIRE

Capital city of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City) population between 120k-200k

Chinampas- artificial islands built to create farmland

Warrior society- prisoners were used a human sacrifice to please the gods

Defeated by Hernan Cortes (Spain) in 1521 AD

INCA EMPIRE

Capital city of Cuzco along the western coast of South America.

Empire stretched about 2500 miles with the majority of people living in the Andes Mts.

A system of roads throughout the mountains allowed the ruler to stay on top of his people

Sacrificed animals and some people to please the gods.

Defeated by Francisco Pizarro (Spain) in 1532 AD

REASONS FOR EXPLORATION

Desire for god, gold and glory

Overland trade routes were controlled Arab and Venetian traders who often charged high prices (they wanted to cut out the middle man)

Sought to find a sea route to Asia (best mode of transportation at the time)

NEW TECHNOLOGY SPARKS EXPLORATION

The compass allowed them to accurately determine which direction they were headed.

The astrolabe helped determine the altitude of the sun or stars.

Mapmakers (cartographers) improved on the maps of the ancient Greeks.

Caravel- fast new ship with multiple masts

The rudder of ships was moved to the back for better steering

EUROPEAN EXPLORATION: PORTUGAL

Prince Henry the Navigator- set up a school to help explorers

Dias- discovered the Cape of Good Hope (southern tip of Africa)

Vasco de Gama- first European to make it India by water

Magellan- rounded the coast of South America, credited with being the first to circumnavigate the world.

EUROPEAN EXPLORATION: SPAIN

Christopher Columbus is credited with discovering the "New World"

Columbus lands in the Bahamas but thinks its India and calls the natives Indians.

Columbus made 3 trips in total before dying, opening up the exchange that can be known as the Columbian Exchange

TREATY OF TORDESILLAS

Agreement between Spain & Portugal

Attempted to settle the conflicts over lands newly discovered and explored by Columbus.

ENCOMIENDA SYSTEM

Created by the Spanish to control Native Americans in the New World

TRIANGULAR TRADE

Europe, Africa & the Americas make up the triangle

Europe would trade weapons & liquor with Africans for their war captives.

The African war captives would be shipped to the new world and used as slave labor

In the Americas raw materials harvested by those slaves would be sent back to Europe.

MIDDLE PASSAGE

The journey of an enslaved person from Africa to the Americas.

Many died on this horrible journey

COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE

The first widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries.

New World crops like corn and potatoes became staples in Europe, Asia, and Africa, while Old World livestock and grains transformed agriculture in the Americas.

Devastating diseases, such as smallpox, brought by Europeans to the Americas had a catastrophic impact on indigenous populations.