The 1The 1stst Americans AmericansPrehistory - 1600Prehistory - 1600

So, how did they get here?So, how did they get here?

Most likely on a Most likely on a landbridgelandbridge, or area where two , or area where two continents were connected togethercontinents were connected together

Two Major Landbridge Theories:Two Major Landbridge Theories: Trans-Atlantic LandbridgeTrans-Atlantic Landbridge Bering Strait LandbridgeBering Strait Landbridge

Trans-Atlantic LandbridgeTrans-Atlantic Landbridge

Bering Strait LandbridgeBering Strait Landbridge

More commonly More commonly accepted theoryaccepted theory

Only 18 miles apart Only 18 miles apart from Russia – Alaskafrom Russia – Alaska

Rough climate, many Rough climate, many rough storms (any rough storms (any Deadliest Catch fans?)Deadliest Catch fans?)

Most likely terrestrial, Most likely terrestrial, not oceanic, routenot oceanic, route

Bering Strait LandbridgeBering Strait Landbridge

Most water trapped in glaciersMost water trapped in glaciers

Less water = more landLess water = more land

The landbridge, known as The landbridge, known as BeringiaBeringia, was an ideal , was an ideal climate for vegetation, hunting, herdingclimate for vegetation, hunting, herding

Some stayed in Alaska; most migrated SouthSome stayed in Alaska; most migrated South

Migration TheoriesMigration Theories

Bird patternsBird patterns Sailed Pacific coastlineSailed Pacific coastline Followed herds east, Followed herds east,

then south via then south via waterwayswaterways

Life Flourishes in the 'New' WorldLife Flourishes in the 'New' World

Animals in completely Animals in completely 'natural' habitat'natural' habitat

Abundance of animals; Abundance of animals; hunting flourisheshunting flourishes

More food = More food = More babiesMore babies

Population increasesPopulation increases

The Bridge is ClosedThe Bridge is Closed

After 10,000 years, After 10,000 years, landbridge covered by landbridge covered by water due to climate water due to climate changechange

Americas isolated for Americas isolated for 11,000+ years11,000+ years

Next ‘confirmed’ Next ‘confirmed’ contact: Vikings c. 900contact: Vikings c. 900

Land Bridge Changes - 20,000 BC to Present

Pre-Columbian Contact?Pre-Columbian Contact?

Some scholars theorize that there was constant Some scholars theorize that there was constant contact with Nativescontact with Natives

Cultural diffusionCultural diffusion Similar religions, agriculture, forms of governmentSimilar religions, agriculture, forms of government

Examples:Examples:Republicanism: Greeks, RomansRepublicanism: Greeks, RomansConfederacy: Iroquois, Mayans, AztecConfederacy: Iroquois, Mayans, Aztec

Sweet Potato!Sweet Potato!

Sweet potatoes, native to the Sweet potatoes, native to the Americas, begin to be cultivated Americas, begin to be cultivated in Polynesia c.700 in Polynesia c.700

How did they get How did they get there?there?

Polynesian Trade Polynesian Trade TriangleTriangle

More in commonMore in common

Sweet potatoes first appear in Polynesia around Sweet potatoes first appear in Polynesia around 700 - 1000 AD700 - 1000 AD

Unlikely that the plant could successfully travel Unlikely that the plant could successfully travel across ocean by natural meansacross ocean by natural means

Chickens also introduced to S. America circa Chickens also introduced to S. America circa 1300 - 1400 AD, about 100 years before first1300 - 1400 AD, about 100 years before firstEuropeans first arriveEuropeans first arrive

Chickens closely resemble Asian species in Chickens closely resemble Asian species in American Somoa, unlike European chickensAmerican Somoa, unlike European chickens

For any account, it's not until post-Columbus that For any account, it's not until post-Columbus that Europeans and others begin to settle in AmericasEuropeans and others begin to settle in Americas

So, who are these Native Americans?So, who are these Native Americans?

What do they call themselves?What do they call themselves?-Indians? -Natives? -1-Indians? -Natives? -1stst Americans? Americans?

Most simply refer to themselves as the name of their Most simply refer to themselves as the name of their tribetribe

-Passamaquoddy - Cherokee – Mohawk-Passamaquoddy - Cherokee – Mohawk Inuit (in-yoo-it) - “the people”Inuit (in-yoo-it) - “the people” Heterogenuos Heterogenuos Roughly 100 million natives before arrivalRoughly 100 million natives before arrival

of Euros.of Euros.

Diversity??Diversity??

• Extremely diverse, both in Extremely diverse, both in cultureculture & & environmentenvironment

-Newfoundland, Mexico, -Newfoundland, Mexico, Brazil, Maine, Alaska, New Brazil, Maine, Alaska, New Jersey, Colorado, FloridaJersey, Colorado, Florida

• Various forms of govt.Various forms of govt.- Theocracy, Oligarchy, - Theocracy, Oligarchy, Republic, ConfederacyRepublic, Confederacy

Diversity??Diversity??• Advanced in science, math, astrology, and Advanced in science, math, astrology, and

medicinemedicine-over 40% of modern pharmaceutical -over 40% of modern pharmaceutical

ingredients used in America before 1492!!ingredients used in America before 1492!!

• Why is this diversity so important?Why is this diversity so important?

• Because America was so large & diverse, it Because America was so large & diverse, it threatened every medieval teaching & assumption threatened every medieval teaching & assumption about human nature, origin, and destinyabout human nature, origin, and destiny

• Shockwaves sent through European Shockwaves sent through European ethnocentrismethnocentrism

European Contact : European Contact : A Clash of CulturesA Clash of Cultures

• Europeans (Columbus) arrive on Hispaniola in 1492Europeans (Columbus) arrive on Hispaniola in 1492

• 3 month journey at sea; tired, delusional, smelly3 month journey at sea; tired, delusional, smelly

• This island does NOT remind them of the India from This island does NOT remind them of the India from Marco Polo's storiesMarco Polo's stories

Impressions of Each OtherImpressions of Each Other

• Europeans?Europeans?

• Native Arawaks?Native Arawaks?

• Can not speak each Can not speak each other's languageother's language

A Picture is worth a 1,000 WordsA Picture is worth a 1,000 Words

MontezumaMontezuma

Quick WriteQuick Write

• What does this quote mean to you? What does it What does this quote mean to you? What does it say about the different values of the Europeans and say about the different values of the Europeans and the Native Americans?the Native Americans?

• MontezumaMontezuma, Aztec Ruler, Aztec Ruler - “What do you do with gold? Do you eat it?” - “What do you do with gold? Do you eat it?”

• CortesCortes, Spanish Explorer, Spanish Explorer - “No, we have an illness only gold can cure.” - “No, we have an illness only gold can cure.”

North American TribesNorth American Tribes

• No standing armyNo standing army

• Small groupsSmall groups

• No official boundaries for property, territoryNo official boundaries for property, territory

• Most did not engage in conquestMost did not engage in conquest

• Placed freedom of community above the freedom Placed freedom of community above the freedom of the individualof the individual

Difference in Property OwnershipDifference in Property Ownership

• Communal propertyCommunal property• Land was a necessity Land was a necessity

for survival, and thus for survival, and thus could not be owned by could not be owned by an individual, only a an individual, only a tribetribe

• ““Leased” landLeased” land

European Views of PropertyEuropean Views of Property

• ““Life, Liberty, and Property”Life, Liberty, and Property”• Private property part of European culturePrivate property part of European culture• The end of Feudalism marked beginning of private The end of Feudalism marked beginning of private

propertyproperty

KING

NOBLES

LORDS

Peasants /Commoners

27

Feudal Contract

LORDS

Common Folk

GIVEPROTECTION TO

GIVE SERVICE TO

Ask the Class....Ask the Class....

• Native Americans and Europeans had vastly Native Americans and Europeans had vastly different views, beliefs, and practices when it came different views, beliefs, and practices when it came to property use and ownership.to property use and ownership.

• What problems/conflictsWhat problems/conflictsmight happen because ofmight happen because oftheir different beliefs in their different beliefs in property ownership?property ownership?

MercantilismMercantilism

• Europeans believe in Europeans believe in mercantilismmercantilism, this is their , this is their main reason for wanting to acquire propertymain reason for wanting to acquire property

• Mercantilism:Mercantilism:More land = More $$ = More powerMore land = More $$ = More power

Make Me a MapMake Me a Map

• In order to claim property, Europeans first needed In order to claim property, Europeans first needed to explore and map their discoveriesto explore and map their discoveries

Land ConflictsLand Conflicts

• Native Americans already inhabit areas being Native Americans already inhabit areas being claimedclaimed

• Europeans claim they have “no rights” to property Europeans claim they have “no rights” to property (no maps, contracts, treaties, etc.)(no maps, contracts, treaties, etc.)

-No “proof” of ownership-No “proof” of ownership

• Natives sign contracts, thinking they are allowing Natives sign contracts, thinking they are allowing Europeans to use their land, when they actually are Europeans to use their land, when they actually are “selling it” to the Europeans“selling it” to the Europeans

Key Events in Early Exploration

• Conquistadors (c. 1500)

• Protestant Reformation (1517)

• Spanish Armada (1588)

• Pueblo Revolt (1680)