The Pre-Columbian Americas

(The Americas before Columbus)

Origins of the Native Americans (aka Indians)

� Hunter-Gatherers from Asia migrated to Americas across Bering Land Bridge (Now the Bering Strait)

� Essentially Isolated after c. 10,000 B.C.

� So Didn�t Share all Animals, Plants, Diseases with �Old� World�

� & Few Large Mammals Survived after c 10,000 BC

� By AD 1492: c. (about) 70 Million People in Americas

Agricultural Revolution (Start of Deliberate Food Creation)

� In America, based on Corn, Beans & Squash

� Spread Slowly to North America

� Responses to Agriculture Depended on Resources, so Societies Very Diverse

� Farming Societies Typically More Complex & Technologically Advanced (Tho� No Native American Society Regularly Used Metal Tools Until Very Late)

� Major Civilizations in 1492

� Central America:� Aztecs (& Weaker Maya)

� South America:� Inca

� North America:� Descendants of �Mound-Builders� Along Southern Mississippi

� Most in North America Members of Less Hierarchical Clan-Based Societies

Western European Society in 1492

� Similarities to Major Indian Civilizations

� Based on Agriculture

� Strict Hierarchy (A Few Kings & Nobles, A Few In [Trading or Manufacturing] Middle Class, Lots of Peasants)

� Life Hard for Average Person

� Nature & Religion Central to Most People�s Lives (Altho Europeans Monotheists & Native Americans Polytheists)

After 1000, Europe Recovering from �Dark Ages�

� & So Can Launch �Crusades� to �Holy Land�

� Revitalizing Trade w/Asia (esp. Cotton, Silk & Spices from India & China)

� Europeans Learning Others� Technologies, incl. Compass & Gunpowder

� Europeans Building Better Ships for Trade & War