History, Science, and Trade

Rebecca WasmundHistory 140

What is History?What is History? History is a collection of events - a

story - that are all important. Facts of history are all verifiable Difficult to prove some parts of

history due to lack of records or reliable witnesses

Historical facts can be proved by two types of sources:

Primary - someone who was a direct witness to the event

Secondary - someone who was not a direct witness, but they use other sources (primary and/or secondary) to construct their statement

Nobody can simply decide whether a factual historical event took place - must be proved

Will always be blank spots in history

History is a collection of events - a story - that are all important.

Facts of history are all verifiable Difficult to prove some parts of

history due to lack of records or reliable witnesses

Historical facts can be proved by two types of sources:

Primary - someone who was a direct witness to the event

Secondary - someone who was not a direct witness, but they use other sources (primary and/or secondary) to construct their statement

Nobody can simply decide whether a factual historical event took place - must be proved

Will always be blank spots in history

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What is History? - Viewpoint

What is History? - Viewpoint

3 sources to prove a historical event: Must have evidence from reliable witness Facts must be logically possible There must be observable causes and effects

Another important element of history is viewpoint Viewpoint means that different people can interpret the same

historical events and facts in different ways - even facts can hold different meanings for different people. This is the “why” of historical events

Viewpoint determined by many things: environment, faith, education, status, age, etc

Solitary facts mean little - facts and events in the broader context of historical periods are much more meaningful

Knowledge of history is important - knowledge builds empathy, which results in tolerance.

3 sources to prove a historical event: Must have evidence from reliable witness Facts must be logically possible There must be observable causes and effects

Another important element of history is viewpoint Viewpoint means that different people can interpret the same

historical events and facts in different ways - even facts can hold different meanings for different people. This is the “why” of historical events

Viewpoint determined by many things: environment, faith, education, status, age, etc

Solitary facts mean little - facts and events in the broader context of historical periods are much more meaningful

Knowledge of history is important - knowledge builds empathy, which results in tolerance.

The Journey of Man - Spencer Wells

The Journey of Man - Spencer Wells

Enrolled in college at age 16 - graduated in 3 years

His Genographic Project has taken him to more than 3 dozen countries

Accomplishments: Revolutionary research for

history of man Advanced understanding of Y

chromosome Greater ability to trace human

migration The Journey of Man -

international book and documentary detailing his travels and findings

Enrolled in college at age 16 - graduated in 3 years

His Genographic Project has taken him to more than 3 dozen countries

Accomplishments: Revolutionary research for

history of man Advanced understanding of Y

chromosome Greater ability to trace human

migration The Journey of Man -

international book and documentary detailing his travels and findings

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The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey

The Journey of Man: A Genetic Odyssey

The “old” (less accepted) theory is the multi-regional model - says that primitive humans left Africa millions of years ago and ended up in areas of Europe, Africa, and Asia, where modern humans evolved

Wells’ work confirms newer (more accepted) theory, the Out of Africa model

Out of Africa model says that all modern humans evolved in Africa, eventually migrated to other areas beginning 60,000 years ago - beginning with Australia

Wells’ research focuses on male humans because of the presence of the Y chromosome Female history is in mitochondrial DNA, which is less useful/accurate for

research purposes Studies of the Y chromosome have concluded that all people evolved from

one common male ancestor in Africa Out of Africa model shows that humans didn’t migrate to the Americas

until approximately 15,000 years ago - much more recent than originally thought.

The “old” (less accepted) theory is the multi-regional model - says that primitive humans left Africa millions of years ago and ended up in areas of Europe, Africa, and Asia, where modern humans evolved

Wells’ work confirms newer (more accepted) theory, the Out of Africa model

Out of Africa model says that all modern humans evolved in Africa, eventually migrated to other areas beginning 60,000 years ago - beginning with Australia

Wells’ research focuses on male humans because of the presence of the Y chromosome Female history is in mitochondrial DNA, which is less useful/accurate for

research purposes Studies of the Y chromosome have concluded that all people evolved from

one common male ancestor in Africa Out of Africa model shows that humans didn’t migrate to the Americas

until approximately 15,000 years ago - much more recent than originally thought.

Catastrophe!Catastrophe! Theory from David Keys - not a

historian, but incorporates data from many sources

Discovered unusual new tree ring growth around 535 AD Likely due to extreme cold

weather and long winters for several years

Such a phenomenon could be attributed to one of three causes: Large volcanic eruption 4 km+ asteroid hitting earth 6 km+ comet

Can’t be asteroid or comet - no crater large enough to prove such a theory

Must be volcano - Krakatoa

Theory from David Keys - not a historian, but incorporates data from many sources

Discovered unusual new tree ring growth around 535 AD Likely due to extreme cold

weather and long winters for several years

Such a phenomenon could be attributed to one of three causes: Large volcanic eruption 4 km+ asteroid hitting earth 6 km+ comet

Can’t be asteroid or comet - no crater large enough to prove such a theory

Must be volcano - Krakatoa

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Catastrophe! - EffectsCatastrophe! - Effects Eruption had devastating results on climate - several accounts around

the world detailing long winters, strange, apocalyptic weather Hard winters had variety of effects:

Less food (too cold, crops failed) Devastating plague - plague virus spreads rapidly in cold weather Death of necessary livestock (notably horses)

Believed to have possibly led to the downfall of large civilizations - most notably the Roman empire

Resulted in formation of new civilizations, such as England, and formation of revolutionary new beliefs and faiths (Islam)

Changed course of history forever - can always happen again, and would undoubtedly change course of history again

Conglomeration of so many sources leads many to believe that Keys’ hypothesis “is not unreasonable”.

Eruption had devastating results on climate - several accounts around the world detailing long winters, strange, apocalyptic weather

Hard winters had variety of effects: Less food (too cold, crops failed) Devastating plague - plague virus spreads rapidly in cold weather Death of necessary livestock (notably horses)

Believed to have possibly led to the downfall of large civilizations - most notably the Roman empire

Resulted in formation of new civilizations, such as England, and formation of revolutionary new beliefs and faiths (Islam)

Changed course of history forever - can always happen again, and would undoubtedly change course of history again

Conglomeration of so many sources leads many to believe that Keys’ hypothesis “is not unreasonable”.

America Before ColumbusAmerica Before Columbus

“The Pristine Myth” - many believe that Indians left America virtually untouched Lived symbiotically with the land

These assumptions are incorrect Originally thought there were

approximately 1 million people living in the Americas when Colombus arrived

Actual number appears to be closer to 100 million people

This means that roughly 95% of the population was decimated by disease brought by visiting Europeans (no immunity)

“The Pristine Myth” - many believe that Indians left America virtually untouched Lived symbiotically with the land

These assumptions are incorrect Originally thought there were

approximately 1 million people living in the Americas when Colombus arrived

Actual number appears to be closer to 100 million people

This means that roughly 95% of the population was decimated by disease brought by visiting Europeans (no immunity)

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Amazonia pre 1492Amazonia pre 1492 Originally believed that the Amazon rainforest could not support a society,

and therefore thought that the rainforest was pristine pre-Columbians Disproved - archeologists found not just one town, but a network of towns

At least 19 villages in 15 square miles Villages share same design Connected by system of highways

Was a complex society - originally thought there was no such complex society possible in this area at that time Altered land to meet their needs by clearing some areas and preserving others

Area is “last poorly known archeological regions on the face of the Earth” Found bridges, man-made ponds and ditches

Evidence of complex civilization Also evident of sophisticated (for that time) knowledge of math, sciences

Originally believed that the Amazon rainforest could not support a society, and therefore thought that the rainforest was pristine pre-Columbians

Disproved - archeologists found not just one town, but a network of towns At least 19 villages in 15 square miles Villages share same design Connected by system of highways

Was a complex society - originally thought there was no such complex society possible in this area at that time Altered land to meet their needs by clearing some areas and preserving others

Area is “last poorly known archeological regions on the face of the Earth” Found bridges, man-made ponds and ditches

Evidence of complex civilization Also evident of sophisticated (for that time) knowledge of math, sciences

The World in 1492The World in 1492 Many misconceptions: knowledge

that the world is round (and not flat) did not originate with Columbus

In 1492 Europe was comprised by various small, unconnected states

Europeans ended up more advanced than other societies

This is because Western Europe was full of rivalries that resulted in the area being far more interconnected than any other region

Connections mean that new inventions and discoveries traveled through these areas rapidly

Many misconceptions: knowledge that the world is round (and not flat) did not originate with Columbus

In 1492 Europe was comprised by various small, unconnected states

Europeans ended up more advanced than other societies

This is because Western Europe was full of rivalries that resulted in the area being far more interconnected than any other region

Connections mean that new inventions and discoveries traveled through these areas rapidly

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are needed to see this picture.

The World & TradeThe World & Trade Trade and connections made Europe the superior nation due to their

superior connections Drugs have always been important to trade - commercially valuable,

foundation of world economy Spain cleared huge plantations and employed slaves in the Americas to

grow crops there exclusively Certain new discoveries were extremely valuable - almost laughable

today Coffee Chocolate Potatoes Tobacco

Mesoamerica (Mayans and Aztecs) participated in large-scale intraregional trade

Mesoamerican trade destroyed upon arrival of Spaniards - who sought to trade globally

Trade and connections made Europe the superior nation due to their superior connections

Drugs have always been important to trade - commercially valuable, foundation of world economy

Spain cleared huge plantations and employed slaves in the Americas to grow crops there exclusively

Certain new discoveries were extremely valuable - almost laughable today Coffee Chocolate Potatoes Tobacco

Mesoamerica (Mayans and Aztecs) participated in large-scale intraregional trade

Mesoamerican trade destroyed upon arrival of Spaniards - who sought to trade globally