Chapter 1: New World

Library Resources and Textbook Acquisition

  • Textbook titled "New World" will be on reserve in the library.

  • To acquire the textbook:

    • Visit the circulation desk in the library.

    • Inform the staff that you need to work with the textbook.

Population of Indigenous Peoples in the Western Hemisphere

  • By 1500, millions inhabit the Western Hemisphere.

    • Over 7,000,000 indigenous peoples living north of Mexico.

    • Indigenous populations in Mexico estimated at over 5,000,000.

  • Significant clusters of people are found in:

    • Mesoamerica

    • South America

  • Population includes diverse groups ranging from:

    • Hunters

    • Fishers

    • Gatherers

European Exploration in the 15th Century

  • Focus on:

    • European exploration advancements in the 15th century.

    • Impact of the collision between the New World and the Old World.

  • Key factors enabling European exploration include:

    • Technological advancements in maritime travel.

    • Development of trade routes and maps.

Technological Advancements

  • Importance of navigation technology:

    • Caravels: More maneuverable ships designed for exploration.

    • Accurate maps and compasses enhance navigation.

  • Historical analogy:

    • Comparison of old road maps to modern GPS technology; errors and inaccuracies persist.

Pioneers of Exploration

  • Key figures in maritime exploration:

    • Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460):

      • Motivated by the desire for a sea route to Asia.

      • Supported by merchants for economic expansion.

      • Catholic nation competing with Muslim North Africans.

    • Bartolomeu Diaz:

      • Reached the Cape of Good Hope (1488).

    • Vasco da Gama:

      • Followed Diaz’s route 10 years later.

      • Successfully navigated to reach Asian markets.

Christopher Columbus

  • Early Life and Beliefs:

    • Born in Italy in 1450.

    • Arrived in Portugal in the 1470s; believed the earth was spherical.

    • Underestimated the distance to Asia from Europe.

  • Funding and Support:

    • Approached Portugal for expedition sponsorship, initially turned down.

    • After years of lobbying, secured backing from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain in 1492.

  • Voyage and Discoveries:

    • Set sail with the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria.

    • Landed on an island thought to be Japan or China; called it San Salvador (Bahamas).

    • Established a colony at Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and Dominican Republic).

  • Impact and Legacy:

    • Initiated substantial demographic decline among indigenous populations due to disease and colonization.

    • Legacy marks the start of European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Naming of the Americas

  • Americas are named after Amerigo Vespucci, not Columbus.

    • Vespucci's explorations from 1499 to 1502 down the South American coast paved the way for the naming.

European Views and Justifications of Conquest

Views on Indigenous Peoples

  • Europeans viewed indigenous peoples through a lens of superiority and ethnocentrism:

    • Savages and uncivilized: Seen as barbaric and lacking in social and technological development.

    • Religion: Viewed native beliefs negatively; considered them as not possessing a true religion.

    • Land Use: Criticized for not cultivating land as Europeans did, leading to claims that they had no right to it.

    • Gender Roles: Viewed native men as weak and criticized the roles of women in indigenous societies.

Justifications for European Conquest

  • Main reasons outlined as the Three G's:

    • Gold: Economic motivation for resources and wealth.

    • God: Evangelical zeal to convert indigenous peoples to Christianity.

    • Glory: National pride and the race to claim territories.

  • Ethnocentrism underpins these justifications, leading Europeans to view themselves as superior.

Consequences of the Encounter between Old and New Worlds

  • Major consequences include:

    • Demographic Disaster: High mortality rates among indigenous populations due to diseases brought by Europeans.

    • Violence: Atrocities committed by conquistadors like Hernán Cortés (Aztecs) and Francisco Pizarro (Incas).

    • Columbian Exchange: Exchange of goods, people, and ideas, causing significant biological and cultural transformations.

    • Alfred Crosby defined it as having profound biological consequences, specifically concerning animals, plants, and diseases.

The Columbian Exchange

  • New World to Old World:

    • Transfer of food staples and products.

  • Old World to New World:

    • Introduction of livestock and crops; significant vegetation changes.

    • Diseases devastated indigenous populations.

Bartolomé de las Casas and Reform

  • Bartolomé de las Casas:

    • Former conquistador turned Dominican priest (1523).

    • Advocated for the humane treatment of indigenous peoples.

    • Documented abuses inflicted by Spanish colonizers leading to legal reforms in Spain.

    • Established laws forbidding the enslavement of natives in 1542.

  • Black Legend:

    • The narrative of Spain as a brutal colonizer prompted other European nations to justify their colonial actions as being more humane.

  • Importantly, while opposed to native enslavement, de las Casas endorsed African slave labor, initiating a shift in the slave economy toward Africa.

Questions and Class Engagement

  • Encourage discussions regarding views on native peoples and implications of exploration and conquest.

  • Preparation for attendance and engagement in class participation was emphasized to ensure involvement.