The World of the 1400s. What Was Going On?

Transcription

1 The World of the 1400s What Was Going On?

2 When European colonizers arrived in the Western Hemisphere, they found two continents that were certainly NOT empty of inhabitants.

3 The Native Americans

4 The earliest humans may have arrived here by migrating from Asia more than 10,000 years ago.

5 During the Ice Age, sea levels were lower, and people may have migrated across the land bridge of Beringia without even knowing it.

6 Were there other possible routes? There are some theories that people from Europe may have crossed over on the southern edge of the glacial ice sheets to North America. Some people believe there also could have been migrations to South America from islands in the Pacific.

7 North America in the 1400s was loaded with different native tribes. Perhaps the most famous were the Mayans and the Aztecs.

8 The Mayans

9 The Aztecs

10 South America in the year 1400s was also loaded with many different native tribes, the most famous being the Incas.

11 The Incas

12 Native American Diversity By the year 1500, Native Americans had divided into hundreds of cultural groups who perhaps spoke up to 2,000 different languages. Each group adapted to its ENVIRONMENT whether in frozen ice fields, scorching deserts, or densely forested woodlands. We will focus on those in North America.

13 These were the major CULTURAL REGIONS of North America.

14 Some native cultures based their economies on farming, while others relied on hunting and fishing. Depending on where they lived, different groups had different technologies. For instance, on the coast, some Indians used tools made from shells. In the desert, irrigation was used. Environment affected religion too. Native Americans strongly believed that certain places were sacred and that animals, plants, and natural forces had spiritual importance.

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24 Meanwhile, in the Eastern Hemisphere

25 Australia and the Islands of the Pacific were inhabited.

26 The Aborigines inhabited Australia. A variety of people lived on the various Pacific islands. The Maori inhabited the islands of New Zealand.

27 Trade routes between Europe, Africa and Asia had been around for centuries.

28 In Africa, tremendous amounts of money were made off of both the gold AND salt trades. Salt was needed for the flavoring of, and preserving of meat.

29 Mansa Musa, king of the Mali Empire, is perhaps the richest man that ever lived.

30 Going Back to the Days of the Roman Empire, The Silk Road brought products from the East.

31 Spice Islands In Asia, Arabia, Persia, India, China, and the Spice Islands all produced products that Europeans wanted.

32 The Chinese had explored the Western Pacific Ocean, as well as the Indian Ocean, helping to establish trade routes. Some of their ships were known as Junks.

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34 European Trade Declined, But Then Resumed After the Fall of the Roman Empire happened in the 500s, trade with Asia and Africa declined. For several centuries, Europeans mainly kept to themselves, with a few exceptions such as the Vikings, who attacked and raided many places. Vikings even made voyages to North America. The Crusades or religious wars that occurred between Christians and Muslims from 1095 until 1291 helped cause the desire for trade to resume. Several events, including the journey and writings of Marco Polo, excited Europeans, and caused them to seek out products, and new ways to get them.

35 Rome at the Height of its Power

36 After the Roman Empire collapsed, a lot of the trading in Europe declined, as the continent split into several kingdoms.

37 The Roman Empire had adopted Christianity, in the 300s A.D., and it had spread throughout Europe. Islam was founded in the 600s A.D., and had spread throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

38 A few centuries after the fall of Rome, a new religion, Islam, was started on the Arabian Peninsula by a man named Mohammed. It spread quite rapidly.

39 The Christians of Europe had to fight off the invading Islamic forces to remain Christian.

40 Many of Europe s Christians were also concerned about Islamic control of Jerusalem and the surrounding territory known as The Holy Land. Multiple battles were fought for control of the region.

41 Contact With the East During and after the Crusades were over, Europeans were exposed to new goods, which were brought home with them. Clothing made from silk and cotton was introduced. New food items like oranges, lemons, dates, etc. were introduced. Spices such as pepper and cinnamon, livened up the food Europeans were eating. The desire for products like these and many others, directly led to Europeans traveling and trading more often.

42 Trade not only increased throughout Europe, but spread toward the East. Italian cities especially gained from this trade because of their location on the Mediterranean Sea.

43 Marco Polo and Family Italian traders often brought products from the east. One of the most famous was a trader from Venice named Marco Polo. His father and uncle journeyed throughout Asia leaving before Marco was actually born. They returned when Marco was about 15. At age 17, Marco, his father, and uncle embarked on a remarkable journey that lasted 24 years. It is estimated they traveled about 15,000 miles.

44 Journeys of Marco Polo and Family

45 On the journey, they saw incredible things, and learned about Asian culture. When Marco Polo returned, he found Venice at war with another Italian city, Genoa. While imprisoned for a few months, he dictated his memories to a cell mate. Later, a book containing some of his memories was written. His tales of the riches of the east inspired and excited many Europeans.

46 By the 1400s, Muslims strategically controlled many of the trade routes between East and West.

47 The Fall of Constantinople When the Christian city of Constantinople was conquered, its name was changed to Istanbul, and the Muslims effectively blocked Europe from trading.

48 With Muslims blocking land routes to Asia, and the Italians in charge of shipping in the Mediterranean Sea, other Europeans began to search for other routes for trade.

49 Portugal, located on the southwest edge of Europe, turned to the sea, and its use of a ship known as a CARAVEL, to try and find a route around Africa.

50 No one knew for sure just how big Africa was. Sailors dared not venture far from land.

51 Portuguese explorers made it to the bottom of Africa in the 1480s, and all the way to India by the 1490s.

52 An Italian explorer named Christopher Columbus proposed sailing west, into the Atlantic Ocean, in order to reach Asia.

53 Although much of the educated world accepted the idea that the earth was round, there were some who feared venturing far from land in case they fell off, or were attacked by sea monsters.

54 Columbus had approached Portugal with his idea, but they thought it was impractical, and chose to focus on their African route. Both Genoa and Venice were also not interested in his plan. He approached the Spanish monarchy, but was originally rejected. However, he was called back by the Spanish royalty, and he eventually achieved financing for his adventure.

55 Columbus in the presence of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella

56 1890s replicas of the Nina, Pinta, and the Santa Maria

57 The 120 Voyagers left Spain on August 3, As the winds continuously blew them west, sailors worried about getting home. After weeks of traveling, Columbus faced the danger of MUTINY from his crew. On October 12, 1492, the exploration party landed on an island somewhere in what we now call the Bahamas.

58 Columbus was fortunate, in that the trade winds blew him westward, but on the return journey, he caught the winds that tend to blow eastward.

59 The First Voyage of Columbus 1492

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61 While exploring, the Santa Maria was wrecked on Christmas Day, Columbus arrived back in Spain on March 15, News of Columbus successful journey spread rapidly throughout Europe. Mistakenly believing he was in Asia, he referred to the natives as Indians. He made a total of four voyages to this New World, as some called it. Note: HE NEVER TOUCHED WHAT IS NOW THE MAINLAND U. S.!!!

62 The Second Voyage of Columbus 1493

63 The Third Voyage of Columbus 1498

64 The Fourth Voyage of Columbus 1502

65 Columbus died in 1506, still believing that he had made it to Asia. In history, he is famous for making the journey, and then having so many other Europeans come after he did. Some Native Americans do not look on him fondly, because of all the changes that took place in the New World after his journeys. Despite your opinion of him, he made a huge impact on history.

66 Many other European explorers followed after Columbus changing the New World forever.

67 The Columbian Exchange