Three Worlds Collide

1. Three Worlds Collide

2. Three Worlds Collide • America, Africa, and Europe come together in the 15th / 16th centuries

3. America • South and Central America • Unified empires: Aztec (Mexico) and Inca (Peru) • Population of millions • North America • Primarily small populations, widely dispersed • Nomadic / Semi Nomadic • No large scale “civilizations” at time of Euro arrival • Anasazi & Mississipian cultures

4. Monk’s Mound dominates the city known as Cahokia. The structure is 100 ft high, 16 acres at base

5. Africa • West & North Africa had long been in contact with Europe through trade • 1470s – Portugal establishing trading posts along west Africa. • Gold, spices, ivory traded for iron, copper, and cloth • 1480s – Portugal establishes sugar plantations off coast of Africa…imports slaves from W. Africa • Slavery – existed in Africa prior to European colonization, but differed greatly. Slaves were war captives or debtors, but not a hereditary status & not racially based.

6. 1791 Map of West Africa Sao Tome & Principe established as sugar planations in the 1480s Cape of Good Hope – Vasco da Gama rounds in 1488

7. Europe • An “age of exploration” begins in the 15th century • Reasons: • Strong monarchs / nations • Growing populations • New tastes and interest in trade (Crusades and Renaissance) • Technology - Astrolabe, Lateen Sail, Compass • Portugal & Spain in exploration “race” • Vasco da Gama goes east and rounds Africa in 1488 • Columbus goes west in 1492…