2.3 America before Columbus- II

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• Leerjaar 2

Discovery and conquest

§ 2.2| The European Expansion begins

2.3 America before Columbus

Learning goals

In this paragraph you will learn:

•  which types of societies formed in America.
  
•  which civilisations there were and what was characteristic for them

Discuss in pairs:

Which word is wrong?

1. Ottoman Empire
2. Charles V
3. Middle East
4. Caliph

Which word is wrong?

1. Constantinople
2. taxes
3. trade increased
4. Europeans

Which word is wrong?

1. Catholicism
2. Judaism
3. taxes
4. Spanish Empire

Which word is wrong?

1. Spices
2. Overseas trade routes
3. Spaniards
4. Vasco da Gama

Which word is wrong?

1. Spaniards
2. Gold
3. Africa
4. Asia

Which word is wrong?

1. Houtman
2. Vasco da Gama
3. Columbus

Learning goals

In this paragraph you will learn:

•  which types of societies formed in America.
  
•  which civilisations there were and what was characteristic for them

Read 2.3

Do the exercises of 2.3

Why did Columbus call the Native Americans "Indians"?

People in America

Via Alaska from Asia. 

Then spread across the entire continent.

Developing many different cultures.

How did the Indians live?

The inhabitants (Indians) that Columbus met in the Bahamas were living in a simple agricultural society.

In mainland America, however, things were different.

How did the Indians live?

Far North (present-day Canada): hunter-gatherers

North (current USA): agricultural societies with bison hunting and fishing on open grassy plains (prairies)

Central and South America: highly developed agricultural urban societies with cities/temples and palaces

Agriculture

• Cows, horses, pigs and sheep were unknown in America.
• Llamas were unsuitable as draft animals and bison were untameable, so the wheel was not invented.

Other crops were grown than in Europe (maize, tomatoes, tobacco, potatoes)

First agricultural societies: 8000 B.C.

Later, agricultural urban societies with highly developed cultures emerged in Central and South America.

Three major agricultural urban societies

The Maya in Central America in dozens of city-states.

The Empire of the Aztecs in the Valley of Mexico.

The Inca Empire in the Andes Mountains in Cities.

Machu Picchu - Inca society

What can you tell about the Inca culture when you look at the Machu Picchu?

The Maya's (M-America)

• From 200-900 AD the Maya developed a highly developed culture in Central America
• They lived (like the ancient Greeks) in dozens of city-states that were constantly at war with each other

The Aztecs (Mexico)

• In 1325 the Aztecs founded their capital Tenochtitlan on an island in a large lake. They then subjugated other peoples.
  
• The Aztecs also believed in many gods, but especially worshiped the sun, where they gave many human sacrifices.
  
• It was one of the largest cities on Earth around the time of Columbus

What do you remember?

Of which empire was Tenochtitlan the capital ?

1. Mayans
2. Incas
3. Aztecs
4. Andes

Wat kenden de indianen niet voordat Columbus Amerika ontdekte

1. Aquaducten
2. Aardappelen
3. Lama's
4. Wielen

Which empire was founded in Peru in 1438? That of the...

1. Incas
2. Mayans
3. Conquistadores
4. Aztecs

Columbus discovers America

Magellaan travels around the world.

The first agricultural urban societies emerged in America

Cortés conquers and destroys Tenochtitlan

The Inca Empire is founded in Peru

Amerigo Vespucci