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Hyperlinked materials are considered part of each lecture
and should be reviewed.
Video Clips
In many of the cyberlectures, I
have added video clips from a variety of sources. I believe
that video often is very effective to bring a topic to life.
In some cases, especially the
History Channel, you will have to tolerate a 30 second
advertisement. I apologize for the inconvenience.
Millions of years ago, the two "American" continents
became geologically separated from the Eastern Hemisphere
land masses where humanity originated. Although recent
archeological discoveries may push further back in time, the
first people to enter the western hemisphere came across a
temporary land bridge from Siberia between 15,000 and 35,000
years ago. Visit this article related to the land bridge
theory:
Drowned Lands Hold Clue to First Americans.
The first inhabitants of the Americas traversed the Beringa
or Bering land bridge and ultimately spread across two
continents, establishing diverse societies based on
agriculture, hunting and adaptation to unique geographical
conditions. Adaptation occurred throughout the hemisphere.
There is also more emerging evidence of possible arrivals
via boats on both the east and west coasts. In
Mesoamerica ,(ignore
the advertisement), successful farming techniques created a
surplus of food, which enabled the development of large
urban cultures including the Olmecs and Mayans. Peace and
prosperity led to the development of cities exhibiting the
great work of artisans, impressive architecture, urban
planning and government. Other cultures developed throughout
the western hemisphere, from the Arctic to the tip of South
America. These societies were predominantly based upon
hunting and gathering and the individual tribes depended
upon the environment and natural resources for their
survival. Villages or tribal groups were limited in size,
complexity and population by the availability of these
natural resources.
A few hundred years before the
arrival of Europeans, significant changes occurred in the
cultures of the Americas. Many established and sophisticated
cultures declined or disappeared entirely--a true "mystery
of history". Although we may not know why certain cultures
disappeared, we do know that enormous cultural diversity
existed in North America. By the end of the fifteenth
century, the population is projected at approximately 4.5
million on the main continent and nearly 4 million more
inhabitants in the Caribbean. Evidence indicates over three
hundred societies spreading nearly as many different
languages. The rise of sedentary cultures occurred
throughout the Americas. The Andes contained a number of
cycles of complex cultures, culminating in the Inca
civilization, which thrived on its ingenious methods of
terrace agriculture. Mesoamerica also witnessed successive
cycles of complex cultures, including the North American
Moundbuilders and urban cultures of southwest North America.
The most significant and advanced culture of this time was
the Aztecs, who inhabited present day central Mexico. An
incredible urban culture, centered in the city of
Tenochtitlan (be sure to look at the last slide
depicting a possible view of the city), with a population of
at least a quarter of a million people ruled a vast empire.
This brief video will provide an overview of the
Aztec Empire.
Modern Europe emerged from the
isolation of the Middle Ages by mastering travel upon the
world's oceans. The impetus for European exploration came
from the desire for new trade routes, to the East, to
eliminate reliance on Muslim traders. Simultaneously,
advances in maritime technology, the availability of
investment capital, the centralization of political power in
emerging nation states, and increasing population pressure
promoted the theories of imperialism and colonization. The
European encounters with Africa and the Americas, beginning
with the Portuguese and Spanish, initiated a bio-cultural
revolution impacting four continents. In 1492,
Christopher Columbus
(Cristobal Colon) entered the new world. The significance of
this event has caused great controversy:
"The greatest event in world
history, excepting the birth and death of Christ..."
Francisco Lopez de Gomara (1552)
"Columbus's voyage to America began
a legacy of European piracy, brutality, slave trading,
murder, disease, conquest, and ethnocide..." The American
Library Association (1990) (I
suggest you read this translation of Las Casas' journals
The
Slaughter that came with the arrival of Columbus)
Biological change, disease,
population loss, conquest, African slavery, cultural change
and economic expansion were a few consequences of the
colliding ecosystems. No group suffered more from the
"Columbian Exchange" than the
AmerIndian People,
who with no immunity to smallpox and other diseases,
experienced the death of millions. Often, we forget this
fact when we celebrate Columbus Day and discuss the
"discovery" of the New World. Take a moment to analyze this
cultural collision from the perspective of Native American
peoples. The Aztecs and Incas were no match for the
biological epidemics or armed conquest by the Spanish
armies. Within a few decades, the great Amerindian
civilizations had perished or been seriously decimated by
brutal tactics and inhumane treatment. Later, many of the
conquerors and those conquered intermarried to create a new
race of people and a society called "New Spain". As the
first successful conquerors and colonizers of the New World,
the Spanish developed an enormously profitable
empire--especially after the discovery of silver. Material
wealth poured into the treasuries of Spain and subsequently
flowed throughout Europe. Some historians have estimated
that the gold supply increased by over 500 percent, making
Spain the most prosperous and powerful nation in Europe.
Take a moment to visit
Vistas: Visual
Culture in Spanish American Culture 1520-1820
.
The other emerging European powers,
especially England and France, began to consider their
options in obtaining a "piece of the wealth". Consistent
with the Spanish model, they would also practice the
philosophy of "Gold, Glory and God". It is no surprise that
God was last on the list of priorities. The Gospel and mass
religious conversions often failed to end practices of
brutality and genocide. Occasionally, religion fostered
punishment of the "heathens" or "half men". Far more
important, was Europe's insatiable appetite for glory and
gold. The availability of all types of material resources
brought out the most aggressive traits of the conquerors and
the dominant theme of European world conquest would be the
search for wealth and power. Under the prevailing theory of
mercantilism, colonies were to provide raw materials for the
growth and profit of the mother country. Often restrictive
regulations were placed upon the colonies to achieve these
goals. The English colonies would grow to question this
economic relationship.
For each module I recommend that you visit A Biography
of America
http://learner.org/resources/series123.html#
,
an exceptional video instructional
series for high school and college students produced by WGBH
Boston in cooperation with the Library of Congress and the
National Archives and Records Administration. These thirty
minute lectures incorporate first person narratives,
photographs, film footage and documents related to various
historical time periods. Combined with my introductory
comments, the required textbooks and our discussions, I
believe you will acquire a more in-depth and enjoyable
encounter with history. Please note the requirements and
possible download limitations—which is why this is not a
requirement. Please follow the directions below and give it
a try!!!!
You can view Annenberg/CPB programs
of your choice online with a broadband connection whenever
you see this icon.
 There is no
charge for this service.
Simply select a
program
and go to the individual program description listing and
click on the icon. Free sign up required for first-time
users. To hear the sound and view video, you should have
Windows Media Player, DSL, a cable modem, or a LAN
connection to a T1 line or greater, and have Javascript
enabled. For more information, please visit our broadband
FAQ.
For this topic—visit
http://learner.org/resources/series123.html#
and access the presentation: New World Encounters.
Our textbook offers a very comprehensive Online Student
Learning Center. Click on the link below, Select the
appropriate chapter and you will have access to: Chapter
Objectives, Chapter in Perspective, Chapter Overview,
numerous Interactive Activities, Primary Source documents
and my favorite--Internet Exercises/Recommended Sites
Related to the Specific Topics--CHOOSE A CHAPTER
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072870982/student_view0/index.html
Folk Music of American History: Music and Lyrics
(highly recommended music before, during or after reading
cyberlectures!)
Additional American Folk Music and Lyrics
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