AP US History Unit 1 Content Outline

• Americas populated by tribes of Natives

• Environment determines social, political, economic structures

• Major centralized civilizations in Andes (Inca) and Mexico (Aztec)

  • Tribute system
  • Lots of gold and silver

• Mississippi built dense urban centers with mounds and farming, trade

• Eastern Woodlands develop villages with maize farming, foraging, hunting

  • Local chiefs, and the Iroquois Confederation

• lack of resources = mobile lifestyles in the Great Plains and Great Lakes

  • Spanish introduce horses in 1500’s

• Arid Southwest led to irrigation, maize farming, large pueblo towns

• Pacific Coast natives based on fishing, social hierarchies, wealth

• Africa dominated by powerful chiefs, internal trade, slave trade with Arabs

• Europe beginning to centralize power and expand

  • Crusades increase awareness and spice trade with Asia
  • Explorers begin to search for new trade routes around Africa
  • Columbus finds New World looking for spice route to Asia in 1492

• Columbian exchange 

  • disease (esp. smallpox) wipes out Native Americans but benefits Europe
  • new crops and livestock to Americas; maize, tomatoes, and potatoes to Europe

• Spain dominant colonial power for 100 years

  • Conquistadores looking for God, Gold, and Glory
  • Encomienda system develops
  • Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico

• French explore Canada and the Mississippi for fur trade

  • Friendly relations with natives

• English begin to arrive seeking land and freedoms

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