Global History: Syllabus for Week of

12/1/08**NO CLASSES ON DECEMBER 2: CUNY TRIPS THIS DAY

DAY 1: Precolumbian Civilizations of MesoamericaFocus: Were the people of Mesoamerica ‘civilized?’

HW #1: Read and annotate the short article. Then, write a one paragraph summary that explains what groups were conflicting and what caused the conflicts.

DAY 2: The Aztec WorldFocus: What did the Aztec World look like?

HW #2: Complete the preliminary questions for Document 7 in the trial packet.

DAY 3: The Age of Exploration BeginsFocus: What motivated the Age of Exploration?

HW #3: Read this article and answer the comprehension questions on a separate piece of paper. (DUE MONDAY)

HW #4: Read Documents 1 and 2 in the trial packet (pages 4-5 of the trial packet) and answer the preliminary questions using YOUR trial perspective for the last question. (Due at the next class).

DAY 4: Spanish Arrival to Mesoamerica (SECTION 2 ONLY) Focus: What happened when the Spanish arrived in Mesoamerica?

HW# 1: Three Civilizations Collide: Cultural Conflict in the Americas (1492-1600)

“It was fourteen hundred and ninety-two when Columbus sailed the ocean blue…” Everyone knows the poem, but what happened before Columbus and his three ships arrived on the island of the Taino people in the middle of the Caribbean, the island that is now the Dominican Republic and Haiti? Who lived in South and Central America before Europeans explorers “discovered” them? And what exactly happened in the Americas in the years after 1492? Our next unit will explore the clash, collision, and conflict of three civilizations…

Before contactPrior to 1492, a number of major civilizations flourished in Central and South America. Between approximately 1400 BCE (nearly 3000 years before Columbus first arrived in the Western Hemisphere) and 1570 CE, major empires such as the Olmecs, Mayans, Incas, and Aztecs built complex cities and civilizations all across the Americas.

The Incan empire was centered in the mountaintop city of Machu Picchu, built nearly 7000 feet above sea level. The city was abandonedin the 1600s and not re-discovered until 1911. The Incas, like the RomanEmpire, were able to build an incredible system of roads and bridges (more than 12,000 miles of roads) that connected their vast empire throughout the Andes Mountains.

The Aztecs ruled their empire from the city of Tenochititlan, a city built in the middle of a lake in present-day Mexico, where canals of water were roads and the people constructed floating gardens called chinampas to grow their crops. Until 1519, when the Aztecs were attacked by Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes, the Aztec empire was ruled over by an emperor named Montezuma.

The Europeans arriveBefore any Europeans such as Columbus or Cortes had arrived in the Americas, a number of rich civilizations existed. But the first European explorers knew none of this prior to their journey. What were they doing? Why did so many Europeans risk their lives to travel across a dangerous ocean on a journey whose end was not sure? What were they looking for?

There are many answers to this question, but perhaps the most important is gold. Ever since trade routes between Europe and Asia had opened up after the Crusades, Europeans had been fascinated with the prospect of claiming some of the riches of those lands. Marco Polo, on his journey through India and China, had described one

of the palaces that he visited: “The palace itself has a very high roof. Inside, the walls of the halls and chambers are all covered with gold and silver and decorated with pictures of dragons and birds and horsemen and various breeds of beasts and scenes of battle. The ceiling is similarly adorned, so that there is nothing to be seen anywhere but gold and pictures. The hall is so vast and so wide that a meal might well be served there for more than 6,000 men.”

Such accounts intrigued Europeans like Columbus. In fact, when Columbus set out on his voyage, he was hoping to find westward sea passage to India and China. He was wrong, of course. He ran into the islands of the Caribbean instead. Others would soon follow.

The destruction of the people and landAs more European conquistadors traveled to the Americas, the life of the lands and people who lived there changed dramatically. Many indigenous peoples were enslaved by Europeans intent on finding as much gold as possible. The Europeans carried diseases for which the immune systems of the indigenous people had no defense; millions would die from smallpox, measles, and the influenza. As the native population decreased, Europeans began to import slaves from West Africa. Between 1500 and 1800, approximately 11 million black Africans were brought over on slave ships to the Americas.

Aztecs and SpanishThe main story of our unit on the collision of these three civilizations—Europe, Africa, and the Americas—will be the story of the meeting and war between the Aztec people of central Mexico and the Spanish conquistadors led by Hernan Cortes. Under Montezuma’s rule, the Aztec people had constructed one of Mesoamerica’s most magnificent civilizations. It was an empire built on war, as Aztec warriors conquered lands throughout Mexico, often taking prisoners who were used as human sacrifice to the Aztec gods.

Some Aztec prophets said that the coming of the Spanish had been foretold for many years by omens—omens such as a comet in the sky and buildings bursting into flames. There was an Aztec prophecy that a group of tall, white, bearded gods would one day return to Tenochtitlan to reclaim the city. So it was that when the Spanish, led by the tall, white, bearded conquistador named Hernan Cortes arrived in Aztec land in 1519, they were greeted not as invaders, but as gods. The story of the meeting of the Aztec and Spanish is one of the most dramatic encounters in all of history and a singular moment of the collision of two civilizations.

HW #3: The Age of Exploration Directions: Read this article and answer the comprehension questions on a separate piece of paper.

The resurgence of trade following the Middle Ages in Europe resulted in a demand for goods from Asia. Trade routes were established across the Mediterranean and through the Middle East to handle this need. But, when the expansion of the Ottoman Empire caused disruption along these routes, Europeans were forced to seek alternative ways of importing these goods. This led to the exploration of water routes to Asia, and eventually the discovery of the Americas by the Europeans.

ReconquistaIn 1469, Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile married and joined two of the most powerful kingdoms in Spain. In 1492, they conquered Grenada, the last Muslim stronghold and united Spain under their rule. This is known as the Reconquista. After achieving this victory, Isabella launched a religious crusade to rid Spain of Jewish and Islamic influence. In all, over 150,000 people were forced out of Spain, while many others were killed. This had a negative effect on Spain, as many of the people forced out were Spain's cultural and intellectual elite.

ExplorationIn the early 1400s, Europeans began exploring the west coast of Africa in search of an all water route to Asia. These early explorations were led by the Portuguese. In 1488, Bartholomeu Dias rounded the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa. In 1498, Vasco Da Gama established an all water route to India. The success of these explorations led Spain to begin its own voyages. In 1492, Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the Americas for Spain. These discoveries had a lasting impact on Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

ImperialismEuropean nations competed for colonies across the globe. These colonies were exploited for their raw materials, and used as new markets for European goods. Europeans had little regard for most of the indigenous peoples of these areas, and as a result, there was great loss of life and culture.

Africa: In the 1400s, the Portuguese setup numerous forts and port cities along the east coast of Africa in hopes of establishing trade with the interior. They were unable to establish contact and ultimately failed. By the mid 1600s, the Dutch had established a settlement at Cape Town on the tip of Africa. This acted as a midway point for their trade with India. The Dutch that settled Cape Town were known as Boers. They either forced out, or enslaved most of the native Africans in this region.

Asia: In the 1500s, Portugal took control of the Indian trade network from the Muslims. They also captured and controlled important trade ports along the

Indian coast. This resulted in Portugal controlling the spice trade for most of the 16th century. Portuguese power in this region declined due in part to their mistreatment of native people in India, and the disrespect shown to Indian religion and culture.

The Dutch took control from the Portuguese in the late 1500s. A group of wealthy merchants setup the Dutch East India Company in the early 1600s and became the dominant force in the Asian spice trade. Their power did not begin to decline until the 1700s.

The British and French formed their own East India Companies and competed for the lucrative spice trade during the 1700s. Britain and France both formed alliances with local princes and employed Sepoys, or Indian troops. In the end, the British East India Company forced France out and remained in control of the trade networks. Soon after, they became the real power in India.

Spain attempted to gain part of the Asian spice trade through its claim on the island chain known as the Philippines. The Spanish claimed the Philippines due to their discovery by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521. Spanish merchants and missionaries used these islands as a staging ground into Asia.

The Americas: After Christopher Columbus discovered the West Indies, Spain began a program of imperialism and colonialism in the Americas. Spain sent over Conquistadors, or conquerors who secured the region for exploitation. Some Conquistadors were motivated by the search gold and glory, while others wanted to convert the natives to Christianity. Hernan Cortez arrived in Mexico in 1519. Within two years he had conquered and destroyed the Aztec Empire. Francisco Pizarro arrived in South America in 1532, and accomplished the same feat against the Incas.

Comprehension Questions

1. What was the Reconquista?2. How did Bartholomeu Dias and Vasco De Gama influence Spain?3. This reading mentions that Columbus’ arrival in the Americas creates a

lasting impact on the world. List one result of Columbus’ “discovery.” 4. What other places does Spain explore and colonize?5. Do you think that this article’s use of the word “discovery” is

appropriate? Why or why not?

Brainstorm: Why do you think Cortez and Pizarro were able to so quickly defeat vast and powerful empires in Mesoamerica?