Lecture One:
Disrupting an “Old World,” to Create a “New
World.”
#1 The World and Water
#2 European Exploration and Colonization
#3 Indigenous Communities in North America
#1: The World- 15th Century
By 1500
•Geo-political map: trade, conflict, and disease
•Spice World: Japan, China, Molucca Islands, Borneo, Sumatra, India
•Gunpowder Empires: Ottoman Empire, Portuguese, Spanish, Safavid, Russia
•Rodolfo Acuna: Occupied America: Spain in North America: violent disruption
15th and 16th Centuries
•Era of Western global exploration, expansion
•Warfare- land and religion-played out in “New World”- Spanish verses English
•Foundations for “contact and conquest”- Africa, Meso-American states
Water: Cross-Cultural Interactions
• Commercial
• New trade routs= increase in port cities
• Merchant houses in Europe
• Mercantilism
• Network of over-seas European colonies
• Supported by war
• Triangle Trade= enslavement in New World
• Cultural- Religion and Ideas
• Biological
• Food crops, animal stocks, disease (The Columbian Exchange)
• European mariners
• New sea routes to markets of Asia
• Direct contact with sub-Saharan Africa and Asia
• Gave rise to early modern history 1500-1800 (the Atlantic World)
• 15th century, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch trading posts on coast of West
Africa
• “Liquid foundation”- empire building/ conquest of “New World”
#2: Motives and Support Systems for
European Exploration
• Motives
• Economics
• Religion
• Adventure/Fame
• Occurred
• Emergence of centralized European monarchies
• Sufficient wealth to finance endeavors
• New technologies: maps, charts, ships, compass, knowledge of winds
• Support System
• Transportation networks
• Silk Roads in China
• Caravans in Sahara desert
• Sea-lanes: Water: Indian, Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins
Europeans and the Columbian Exchange
Exploration and Colonization in the “New” World
China: Indian Ocean Basin
Portuguese: Africa’s west coast 15th century
•Goals: expand Christianity/ Commercial activities
•Colonization of Atlantic Islands
•Indian Ocean trade
• Muslim intermediaries
• Portuguese ships with cannons=European imperialism
•Christopher Columbus: plan rejected by Portuguese/sponsored by Spain
Spain: Violent intrusion into Americas
•Conquistadors- 1519- Hernan Cortes
•Encomienda System
•Natives became Spanish subjects
•Catholic Missionaries: “a double-edged sword”
• Protestant Reformation intensified national rivalries
•Decline of Indigenous population- import of enslaved Africans
• Results of Spanish conquest
Historical Snapshot: The Explorer and the Lady
Hernando de Soto and Lady Cofitachequi
1539- Chiefdom of Coftachequi
No Gifts
Pearls and Diplomatic Maneuverings
Desoto and the Tombs of the Dead
Impact of Invasion
Spanish Legacy
#3: Indigenous Societies
Physical Environments
Three Types of Regional Cultures
Matrilineal and Patriarchy
Three Eras:
• Paleo-Indian era
• Archaic Era
• Pre-Columbian Era
Indigenous Communities Encounter European Invader
Christopher Columbus- “Children of Nature.”
Gender Assumptions of Indigenous Women
Squaws
Convinced of their own superiority…
4 Consequences of Contact
Odd,
Foolish,
Strange
Ignored
Women as
Negotiators
Housing
Body Odors
Indigenous
Perceptions
of the
Invader
No Gifts
Ignored
Religious
Rituals
Food
Preparation
and
Seasoning
Images of Indigenous Women
Pocahontas: The Noble Indian Princess
Creation of the Squaw
Media and Stereotypes
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