The Pre Columbian World: America

and Europe

What do you think of when you hear the word

History? Two Standard definitions

Events which happen in the past The study of those events in the past by

contemporary people What do we mean by U.S. History?

U.S. History is not limited to the exact dates of our nation itself

What is History?

The First Settlement of America

North and South America were the last areas of the world to be occupied

First American settlers came from Northwest Asia and Siberia

First groups begin to cross land bridge around 15,000 years ago Crossed in pursuit of herds and tribes were

hunter-gathers Over the next few thousand the migrants began

to spread out across the continents

Native American Society

Due to overhunting and the warming of the climate the Natives in North America begin to change focus Form semi-permanent farms

focused on Beans, Corn, and Squash

Cultural and social differences abound in North America mostly driven by environment

Most native religion was driven by local factors and were polytheistic

Major civilizations rose in North America outside of Mesoamerica

Europe was a backwater of the known world

before 1500 Exploration was limited during the Middle Ages

with Marco Polo being the main exception Europe’s society focused on trade through

Constantinople for eastern goods Europe as a result became obsessed with the

goods from China and southeast Asia The Trade was interrupted with the fall of

Constantinople in 1453 to the Turks

Europe before 1500

Europe and the Atlantic

Historically the Mediterranean had been the main focus of trade for Europe

During the 15th Century we see the trade routes shift to the Atlantic

To deal with these new routes merchants develop new ships The Mediterranean favored

shallow triangular sailed ships Atlantic required durable ships

with square sales Compromise was reached in the

Caravel design The Caravel becomes the main

ship for both explores and merchants