
The fall of the Roman Empire led to the
development of the feudal system.

Decline of feudalism:


The development of farm technology (plows and padded
horse collars) allowed farmers to produce a surplus of
food, which could feed a growing population and a
standing army.
Under these improved economic conditions people
developed specialize skills. Trading towns and cities
became the dominant economic system (shift from
feudalism).
 The

Crusades (1096 -1200s)
Fighting between Christians and Muslims for the Holy
lands (Southwest Asia) and spread of religious beliefs.
 The
Crusades were not successful, but they
helped to expand trade and developed
a new social class, the bourgeoisie.
 And…..
 The
Crusades ushered in the Renaissance

European isolation ended and a new era of growth in
European learning and creativity began.

Spread of knowledge throughout Europe was aided by
Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the …..
This map
does
not
include
Spanish
Explorers.
14_ _ he….
Other deeds:
Installed the encomienda system which gave
colonists control over Indian labor (1493).
Under this system and with the use of force he
took over Hispaniola (Haiti).
Bartolome de Las Casas denounced this take
over in, Brief Account of the Devastation of the
Indies.
Columbus is also credited with the “Columbia
Exchange”; the exchange of goods across the
Atlantic Ocean.
Flat earth myth…???

Sir Walter Raleigh receives royal permission to start an
English colony (1583). He explores the Atlantic coast and
names the area “Virginia” in honor of Queen Elizabeth the
“Virgin Queen.”

From 1585 – 1587 Raleigh tries to colonize Roanoke Island,
but was unsuccessful due to weather and events such as
stalled supply ships. Why were the ships stalled????
 The
English conflict with the Spanish Armada
 King
James I issued the Charter of 1606 which
authorized two merchant companies to colonize
Virginia (Plymouth Company and London Company).
 These
were joint-stock companies and the
government was not directly involved. Instead,
investors shared the cost for colonization and
shared in the profits (or losses) from the colony.
 The companies, following Spain, were given the
right to mine/dig for gold, silver, and copper.
David Thewlis
Christopher Plummer
Colin Farrell
Wingfield
Captain Newport
John Smith
Christian Bale
Wes Studi
Batman…John Rolfe
Opechancanough
Q’orianka Kilcher
Pocahontas
Captain John Smith
His leadership helped save the colonists from certain death.
He was a soldier and had strong leadership skills.
He visited native tribes and established good relationships
between the colonists and natives.
He is quoted as saying “he who will not work, will not eat.”
A New Cash Crop
The future of the new settlement was uncertain until settlers began
growing tobacco. By 1619 tobacco was the colonies largest cash crop.
Tobacco was called “green gold” The growing of tobacco fueled the
colony’s economy and lead to the physical expansion of Jamestown.
From the beginning Jamestown had problems
-land was swampy
-few settlers had skills, such as carpentry or farming
-while settlers searched for gold, their strength and
supplies diminished.
Nearly 2/3rds of the original 108 within the first
8 months. The colonists barely survived the
cold, illness, and famine.
Jamestown today
Powhatan houses
Jamestown 1606
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/histo
ry/index.html
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/php/
voyage.php