UNIT 1: 1491-1607 🗺

BIG PICTURE: Before European contact, separate Native American groups had their own complex, diverse cultures. These cultures were heavily shaped by the environment that surrounded them. 🌲🌲🌲

EXAMPLES:

(Group) —> (Location) —> (Traits)

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COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE: Trade of goods between North America and Europe/Africa.

Context for European Exploration: Europe had grown centralized and sought out luxuries through sea-based trade routes. New inventions heavily helped sea-based trade such as the astrolabe and lateen sail. Europeans had already set up trading post empires along the African coast. Most importantly exploration was influenced by the Three G’s: God, Gold, Glory.

• Spain led exploration throughout the 1400s/1500s

• European countries were constantly competing for control of trade routes

• Christopher Columbus “discovered” America in 1492

Specifics of C. Exchange:

Food: Tomatoes and maize were introduced to Europe, while wheat, rice, and soybeans were introduced to America.

Animals: Turkeys brought to Europe, horses and cattle brought to America

People: Enslaved Africans and Europeans moved into America

Diseases: Smallpox introduced to America, Syphilis brought to Europe

Effects of C. Exchange: The Columbian Exchange most importantly had a negative effect on the Native populations. Diseases like Smallpox killed many Natives and brutal labor systems and killings also added to the population decline. European countries realized that agriculture in the Americas would create the most money for the mother countries. The Spanish took advantage of this and created the Encomienda System. This was a labor system that enslaved natives to work for the Spanish. The Natives kept dying (shocker) so enslaved Africans were brought to America as well. The Spanish also set up the Casta System which declared that Natives and enslaved Africans were at the bottom of society.

• Before slavery began in America, the Headright System was in place. Essentially, indentured servants worked for the rich and could be released when debts were fixed. Once this fails, slavery begins.

• Bartolomé de las Casa wrote about Native mistreatment and was heavily against it. Other missionaries believed this treatment was wrong as well.

• Most Europeans had their own belief systems that “justified” their treatment towards the Natives. The Puritans said it was “God’s will”... (Yikes, also I’m getting into period 2, whoops)

• Natives and Europeans did cooperate with each other and learn from each other. But their relationship were heavily strained due to European mistreatment

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TERMS TO KNOW:

• Astrolabe, Lateen Sail (Maritime advancements)

• Three G’s (God, Glory, Gold)

• Smallpox (KILLER!!!)

• Encomienda System, Casta System (Spanish set-up systems, deals with Native treatment)

• Headright System, Indentured Servants (Labor system before slavery)

PEOPLE TO KNOW:

• Iroquois, Pueblos, Cahokia (Native groups, these ones seem important)

• Christopher Columbus (Obviously)

• Bartolomé de las Casa (Spoke out against Native mistreatment)

  HELPFUL VIDEOS:

  CRASH COURSE: The Black Legend, Native Americans, and Spaniards

  Heimler’s History: Unit 1 Review (a lot of info came from this lol)

YAY WE MADE IT PAST UNIT 1!!! 🤯😲🤯

(Here’s a meme for your hard work)