HIST 105 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: A World Transformed, Indigenous Peoples Of The Eastern Woodlands, Paleo-Indians
23 Feb 2016
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Paleo-indians crossed into north america from asia 20,000 years ago. During the migrations, they divided into distinct groups, often speaking different languages. The agricultural revolution sparked population growth, allowing some groups, such as aztecs, to establish complex societies. The eastern woodland indians, who lived along the atlantic coast, had just begun to practice agriculture when the europeans arrived. Native americans initially welcomed the opportunity to trade with the europeans. Neither christianity nor european-style education held much appeal for native. Americans, and they resisted efforts to transform their cultures. Contagious old world disease, such as smallpox, decimated the indians, leaving them vulnerable to cultural imperialism. West africans had learned of islam long before european traders arrived looking for slaves. Europeans found powerful local rulers who knew how to profit from commercial exchange. Slaves who had been captured in distant wars were taken so-called slave factories where they were sold to europeans and then shipped to the new world.
