APUSH Period 1 1492-1607
1. Pre-Columbian Societies (Before 1492)
- Native American Cultures: Diverse societies existed across North America, including the Iroquois in the Northeast, the Pueblo in the Southwest, the Mississippian culture in the Southeast, and the Great Plains tribes. Each had distinct social, political, and economic structures.
- Environmental Adaptation: Native American groups adapted to their environments, developing agricultural techniques (e.g., the "Three Sisters" method of planting corn, beans, and squash together) and building complex societies (e.g., Cahokia in present-day Illinois).
### 2. European Exploration and Conquest (1492–1607)
- Motivations for Exploration: Europeans, driven by the three G’s—Gold, Glory, and God—sought new trade routes, wealth, and religious converts. The Renaissance and advances in navigation (e.g., the caravel, compass) facilitated exploration.
- Key Explorers:
- Christopher Columbus (1492): Reached the Caribbean, leading to the Columbian Exchange.
- Hernán Cortés (1519-1521): Conquered the Aztec Empire.
- Francisco Pizarro (1532-1533): Conquered the Inca Empire.
### 3. Columbian Exchange
- Definition: The exchange of goods, ideas, people, and diseases between the Old World (Europe, Africa) and the New World (Americas) following Columbus’s voyages.
- Impact:
- On the Americas: Introduction of horses, cattle, pigs, and diseases like smallpox (which devastated Native populations).
- On Europe: Introduction of new crops (e.g., potatoes, maize) which led to population growth.
- On Africa: The rise of the Atlantic Slave Trade, with millions of Africans forcibly transported to the Americas.
### 4. Spanish Colonization and Encomienda System
- Spanish Empire: Spain established a vast empire in the Americas, extracting wealth through mining and agriculture, often exploiting Native labor.
- Encomienda System: A labor system where Spanish landowners were granted the right to use Native American labor in exchange for converting them to Christianity. This system was brutal and led to significant Native population declines.
- Bartolomé de las Casas: A Spanish priest who criticized the mistreatment of Native Americans and advocated for their rights, leading to the New Laws of 1542, which reformed the encomienda system.
### 5. Cultural Interactions and Adaptations
- Mestizo Population: A new mixed-race population emerged as Europeans and Native Americans intermarried, especially in Spanish colonies.
- Syncretism: Blending of Native American and European religious practices, seen in the adaptation of Catholicism by Native groups.
### 6. Other European Powers
- French Exploration: Focused on the fur trade, with relatively cooperative relations with Native Americans (e.g., alliances with Huron tribes).
- English Exploration: Focused on establishing colonies in North America, though significant colonization efforts began after 1607 (e.g., Jamestown).
### 7. African Societies and the Atlantic Slave Trade
- West African Societies: Prior to European contact, West African kingdoms (e.g., Mali, Songhai) had complex social structures and traded extensively with Europe and the Islamic world.
- Atlantic Slave Trade: The demand for labor in the New World led to the forced migration of millions of Africans to the Americas. Africans were central to the economy of colonies, particularly in the Caribbean and Brazil.
### 8. Impact of Contact on Native Societies
- Demographic Collapse: Diseases like smallpox caused catastrophic population declines among Native Americans.
- Resistance and Adaptation: Some Native American groups resisted European colonization (e.g., Pueblo Revolt of 1680), while others adapted by forming alliances or adopting European technologies.
### 9. Key Concepts
- Key Concept 1.1: Before the arrival of Europeans, Native populations in North America developed a wide variety of social, political, and economic structures based on interactions with the environment and each other.
- Key Concept 1.2: European overseas expansion resulted in the Columbian Exchange, a series of interactions and adaptations among societies across the Atlantic.
- Key Concept 1.3: Contacts among American Indians, Africans, and Europeans challenged the worldviews of each group.
### 10. Important Documents and Events
- 1491: Refers to the period just before Columbus’s arrival, emphasizing the complexity and diversity of pre-Columbian societies.
- 1492: Columbus’s first voyage, marking the beginning of sustained contact between the Old and New Worlds.
- 1607: Establishment of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, marking the end of Period 1.
### Study Tips
- Focus on Big Ideas: Understand the causes and effects of European exploration and the Columbian Exchange.
- Practice Historical Thinking Skills: Be able to analyze primary sources, make connections between different societies, and assess the impact of European colonization on Native American and African societies.
- Remember Key Dates: 1491 (pre-Columbian era), 1492 (Columbus), and 1607 (Jamestown).
1. Pre-Columbian Societies (Before 1492)
- Native American Cultures: Diverse societies existed across North America, including the Iroquois in the Northeast, the Pueblo in the Southwest, the Mississippian culture in the Southeast, and the Great Plains tribes. Each had distinct social, political, and economic structures.
- Environmental Adaptation: Native American groups adapted to their environments, developing agricultural techniques (e.g., the "Three Sisters" method of planting corn, beans, and squash together) and building complex societies (e.g., Cahokia in present-day Illinois).
### 2. European Exploration and Conquest (1492–1607)
- Motivations for Exploration: Europeans, driven by the three G’s—Gold, Glory, and God—sought new trade routes, wealth, and religious converts. The Renaissance and advances in navigation (e.g., the caravel, compass) facilitated exploration.
- Key Explorers:
- Christopher Columbus (1492): Reached the Caribbean, leading to the Columbian Exchange.
- Hernán Cortés (1519-1521): Conquered the Aztec Empire.
- Francisco Pizarro (1532-1533): Conquered the Inca Empire.
### 3. Columbian Exchange
- Definition: The exchange of goods, ideas, people, and diseases between the Old World (Europe, Africa) and the New World (Americas) following Columbus’s voyages.
- Impact:
- On the Americas: Introduction of horses, cattle, pigs, and diseases like smallpox (which devastated Native populations).
- On Europe: Introduction of new crops (e.g., potatoes, maize) which led to population growth.
- On Africa: The rise of the Atlantic Slave Trade, with millions of Africans forcibly transported to the Americas.
### 4. Spanish Colonization and Encomienda System
- Spanish Empire: Spain established a vast empire in the Americas, extracting wealth through mining and agriculture, often exploiting Native labor.
- Encomienda System: A labor system where Spanish landowners were granted the right to use Native American labor in exchange for converting them to Christianity. This system was brutal and led to significant Native population declines.
- Bartolomé de las Casas: A Spanish priest who criticized the mistreatment of Native Americans and advocated for their rights, leading to the New Laws of 1542, which reformed the encomienda system.
### 5. Cultural Interactions and Adaptations
- Mestizo Population: A new mixed-race population emerged as Europeans and Native Americans intermarried, especially in Spanish colonies.
- Syncretism: Blending of Native American and European religious practices, seen in the adaptation of Catholicism by Native groups.
### 6. Other European Powers
- French Exploration: Focused on the fur trade, with relatively cooperative relations with Native Americans (e.g., alliances with Huron tribes).
- English Exploration: Focused on establishing colonies in North America, though significant colonization efforts began after 1607 (e.g., Jamestown).
### 7. African Societies and the Atlantic Slave Trade
- West African Societies: Prior to European contact, West African kingdoms (e.g., Mali, Songhai) had complex social structures and traded extensively with Europe and the Islamic world.
- Atlantic Slave Trade: The demand for labor in the New World led to the forced migration of millions of Africans to the Americas. Africans were central to the economy of colonies, particularly in the Caribbean and Brazil.
### 8. Impact of Contact on Native Societies
- Demographic Collapse: Diseases like smallpox caused catastrophic population declines among Native Americans.
- Resistance and Adaptation: Some Native American groups resisted European colonization (e.g., Pueblo Revolt of 1680), while others adapted by forming alliances or adopting European technologies.
### 9. Key Concepts
- Key Concept 1.1: Before the arrival of Europeans, Native populations in North America developed a wide variety of social, political, and economic structures based on interactions with the environment and each other.
- Key Concept 1.2: European overseas expansion resulted in the Columbian Exchange, a series of interactions and adaptations among societies across the Atlantic.
- Key Concept 1.3: Contacts among American Indians, Africans, and Europeans challenged the worldviews of each group.
### 10. Important Documents and Events
- 1491: Refers to the period just before Columbus’s arrival, emphasizing the complexity and diversity of pre-Columbian societies.
- 1492: Columbus’s first voyage, marking the beginning of sustained contact between the Old and New Worlds.
- 1607: Establishment of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in North America, marking the end of Period 1.
### Study Tips
- Focus on Big Ideas: Understand the causes and effects of European exploration and the Columbian Exchange.
- Practice Historical Thinking Skills: Be able to analyze primary sources, make connections between different societies, and assess the impact of European colonization on Native American and African societies.
- Remember Key Dates: 1491 (pre-Columbian era), 1492 (Columbus), and 1607 (Jamestown).
