JH-Chapter+1

__Chapter 1: The New World__ I. Shaping of North America a. Plate tectonics form different continents, oceans, and mountain ranges beginning 225 million years ago. b. The Ice Age (approximately two million years ago) covered the world with thick glaciers. c. The melting of these glaciers formed and filled the Great Lakes and other inland bodies of water. II. Peopling the Americas a. People are thought to have come to North America in boats and on foot (across frozen waters). b. They came primarily from Eurasia, the area that became Siberia to Alaska. c. They spread down to the tip of South America and grew approximately 54 million in number by 1492. d. Some, like the Incas and the Mayans, developed sophisticated civilizations. III. The Earliest Americans a. Some of the earliest civilizations were the Aztecs, Incas, Pueblos, the Mound Builders, the Missippippis, and the Anasazis. b. These cultures fell into decline around 1300 A.D. c.  Native American tribes soon took their place. IV. Indirect Discoverers of the New World a. These included the Norse and the Christian crusaders. V. Europeans Enter Africa a. Marco Polo had some influence in future exploration. b. Cheaper exportation was another motivator. c. The innovations of Portuguese navigators helped. d. While Portugal worried about the south and east, the newly united Spain looked westward. VI. Columbus Comes upon a New World a. Advances in technology, exploration, and science lead to further interest. b. Columbus led three small ships to the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. c. His voyage was unsuccessful at achieving its goal, but inadvertently became one of the greatest discoveries in history. VII. When Worlds Collide a. Trade included precious stones, foodstuff, slaves, and disease. This was called the Columbian Exchange. b. The disease proved especially harmful to the weak immune systems of the Natives. VIII. The Spanish Conquistadors a. Spain led the way in exploration and colonization in the sixteenth century, under the banner of God, gold, and glory. b. Important conquistadors included Balboa, Magellan, de León, Cornado, de Soto, and Pizzaro. c. Encomienda system was when Spanish colonists basically enslaved the Indians. IX. The Conquest of Mexico a. Cortez led the conquest of the Aztec empire and took it in August 1521. b. The “mestizo” culture began with the Spaniard’s intermarriage X. The Spread of Spanish America a. Spanish continued to explore the Americas. b. Although there were negative impacts of the Discovery, there were numerous and colossal positive ones as well.