Pre-Columbian America and Europe

Myths & Realities

1. Jose de Acosta

2. Pleistocene Epoch migration 60,000-15,000

BCE

1. Folsom technology2. Desert nomadism3. Forest efficiency

1. Complexity- population growth- gender roles: production &

reproduction

2. Urbanization 3000 BCE – 1200 CE- Anasazi Hopi, Zuni, Pueblos

- Mississippian “mound builders”

Ecological instability

Bottle Creek

1. N. America- decentralization

Southwest - Pueblos, PimasSoutheast - Creek, Choctaw, CherokeeNortheast - Oneida, Mohawk, Cayuga, Seneca

2. C. & S. America- Aztecs, Incas

In 1492…- 2000 distinct cultures 60M ?

- North America 7-10M ?

…Western Hemisphere had been “prepared” for invasion.

Colonization of the New and Old Worlds, 1500 - 1763

1. Reason and nature- Renaissance

2. Imperial Ecology

Prince Henry

3. Small world

1. Reformation and war 1535-1648

Peace of Westphalia 1648

2. Absolute monarchy 1500s - 1700s

James I (England)Louis XIV (France)Elizabeth I (England)Philip II (Spain)Peter the Great (Russia)Catherine the Great (Russia)Frederick the Great (Prussia)Gustavus Adolphus (Sweden)

3. Mercantilism

“zero-sum” gamejoint stock companies

The Consequences of Colonization

1. Portuguese Empire

2. “New World” slavery

1. Ecological Imperialism- success of Old World flora/fauna

2. The microbial exchange

1492 7-10M1900 250K

3. Era of Western dominance (Modernity)- safety valve- commodities- economics of addiction

tobacco, coffee, tea, sugar

1. ProRichard HakluytJean Baptiste Colbert

- spurred domestic growth- strengthened national position- empowered “absolute” monarchs

2. ConBartolomè de Las Casas 1590s

- Jesuit critique

Comte de Buffon 1770s- frontier debased humanity,

civilization

Conclusion…

1) Native societies prepared New World for invasion2) Modern Europe driven to expand3) Advantages of colonization outweighed moral or

intellectual objections