GB+Chapter+1

__Chapter 1 __ North American continent formed 10 million years ago. Great Ice age 2 million years ago, glaciers retreat 10,000 years ago. Ice age caused a land bridge to appear between North America and Siberia. Natives from Asia use bridge to cross into N. America for 250 centuries. Land bridge disappears 10,000 years ago when glaciers melt. 54 million people inhabit North and South America by 1492 Corn developed in 5000 BC. Main crop for Mexican natives, later spread to North America. It reaches N. American Southwest by 1200 BC. Influences pueblo people. Reaches Eastern N. America by 1000 AD. Abundance of food creates a higher population. Scandinavians first land in the North East of N. America around 1000 AD. All early settlements fail. 15th century- Portuguese set up first plantations along the African Coast. Spain looks for a Westward route to India for transporting goods without encountering rivals. Columbus- Italian sailor with 3 ships, spotted land in the Bahamas after 6 weeks at sea (Oct. 12, 1492). Introduced new plants, animals, technology, and diseases. Took plants such as tobacco, corn, beans tomatoes, and potatoes back to Europe. 90% of Natives died from disease “Columbian Exchange” – America to Europe: gold, silver, corn, potatoes, pineapple, tobacco, beans, vanilla, chocolate, and syphilis disease. Europe to Americas: wheat, sugar, rice, coffee, horses, cows, smallpox, measles, bubonic plague, flu, typhus, diphtheria, scarlet fever. Africa to Americas: Slaves Conquistadors- 1500- in search of gold Spanish conquistadors went to explore land in the Caribbean and mainland North America. Notable conquistadors: Vasco Nunez Balboa discovers pacific ocean and panama (1513). Ferdinand Magellan, Juan Ponce de Leon- explored Florida. Francisco Coronado- searched for golden cities, discovered Grand Canyon. Hernando De Soto- seeks gold from 1539 to 1542. Francisco Pizarro- dominated Incas and stole their gold (1532). Encomieda- basic form of slavery June 30th, 1520- The Aztecs attacked causing Spanish to retreat. June 13th, 1521 Cortes attacks city of Tenochtitlan.