Americas populated by tribes of Natives

Environment determines social, political, economic structures

Major centralized civilizations in Andes (Inca) and Mexico (Aztec)

• Tribute system

• Lots of gold and silver

Mississippi built dense urban centers with mounds and farming, trade

Eastern Woodlands develop villages with maize farming, foraging, hunting

• Local chiefs, and the Iroquois Confederation

lack of resources = mobile lifestyles in the Great Plains and Great Lakes

• Spanish introduce horses in 1500’s

Arid Southwest led to irrigation, maize farming, large pueblo towns

Pacific Coast natives based on fishing, social hierarchies, wealth

Africa dominated by powerful chiefs, internal trade, slave trade with Arabs

Europe beginning to centralize power and expand

• Crusades increase awareness and spice trade with Asia

• Explorers begin to search for new trade routes around Africa

• Columbus finds New World looking for spice route to Asia in 1492

Columbian exchange

• disease (esp. smallpox) wipes out Native Americans but benefits Europe

• new crops and livestock to Americas; maize, tomatoes, and potatoes to Europe

Spain dominant colonial power for 100 years

• Conquistadores looking for God, Gold, and Glory

• Encomienda system develops

  • Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico

French explore Canada and the Mississippi for fur trade

• Friendly relations with natives

English begin to arrive seeking land and freedoms