Period 1 (1491-1607)

Time Period: 1491-1607

Key Concepts:

• Pre-Columbian Societies:

• Diverse cultures in North America: the Aztecs, Mayans, and various Native American tribes.

• Memorable Fact: The Aztecs built monumental cities like Tenochtitlán, showcasing advanced engineering and agriculture.

• European Exploration:

• Motivated by God (spread Christianity), Gold (wealth), and Glory (national power).

• Key Explorers:

  • Christopher Columbus (1492, opened the Americas to European exploration)

  • Hernán Cortés (conqueror of the Aztecs)

  • Francisco Pizarro (conqueror of the Incas)

• Memorable Fact: Columbus mistakenly believed he found a route to Asia, ushering in an era of colonization.

• Columbian Exchange:

• Exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the New World and Old World.

• Significant crops introduced to Europe: potatoes, maize, tomatoes, which transformed diets and economies.

• Memorable Fact: The introduction of horses revolutionized Native American hunting and warfare.

• Diseases (smallpox) devastated Native American populations, leading to demographic shifts.

• Contact and Conflict:

• Initial encounters led to violent clashes and exploitation of Native Americans.

• Spanish Encomienda System: forced labor from indigenous peoples, reminiscent of feudalism.

• Memorable Fact: The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) split the New World between Spain and Portugal, impacting future colonization.

Important Dates:

• 1492: Columbus arrives in the Americas - the beginning of sustained contact.

• 1533: Fall of the Inca Empire - marks Spanish dominance in South America.

• 1607: Establishment of Jamestown - the first permanent English settlement in North America, paving the way for future colonies.