Great Convergence
IS IT STILL RELEVANT
TODAY?
What is The Great Convergence?
 It’s the coming together and combining of cultures




from around the world in America.
It started with European exploration and the
Columbian Exchange.
It continues even today.
Who cares, right? How could this possibly still be
relevant today?
For each of the following pictures, you must decide if
or how they were impacted by the Great
Convergence!
The Alphabet?
 Absolutely
UnAmerican.
 Our alphabet
originated in
Ancient
Greece and
was brought
here by
British
colonists.
FIREWORKS!
 A symbol of
American
Independence!
 But, they were
invented by the
Ancient Chinese
who developed
gunpowder.
The White House
 Architecture is classically
Greek and Roman from
Friezes to columns and
arches!
 Even DEMOCRACY is not
original to America! It was
invented in Athens, Greece
where citizens voted directly
on issues.
The Rodeo!
 It seems as American as
Apple Pie, but the rodeo
was actually a
contribution of the
Spanish!
Pie
The first pie
recipes came
from
England, but
it was the
Greeks who
invented
crust…
The Bill of Rights
 The British
beat us to this
one too! They
actually wrote
their Bill of
Rights in
1689…
Ethnic Diversity
America is made up
of people and
cultures from all
over the world! This
is the most
significant influence
of the Great
Convergence –
Americans
themselves!
Christmas
 Christmas may
seem American,
but it’s actually
celebrated all
over the world
and has it’s
origins in the
Roman Empire
in 529 A.D.
All these things came to America because of the
Columbian Exchange…
Dogs
Pigs
Horses
Lettuce
Pears
Peaches
Sheep
Let’s put this all together now…
 Write a paragraph about The Great Convergence that
answers these questions:
WHO?
WHAT?
WHEN?
WHERE?
WHY?
HOW?
It’s okay to make inferences!
Write about what YOU know!
Here are some things that were invented in
America…
 Cupcakes
 Dental floss
 Combine harvesters
 Jelly Beans
 Potato Chips
 Jeans
 American Football
 Circular Saws
 Ballpoint Pens