HIST 2600 Study Guide - Spring 2018, Comprehensive Midterm Notes - Slavery, Indigenous Peoples Of The Americas, Spanish Empire
HIST 2600
MIDTERM EXAM
STUDY GUIDE
Fall 2018
The Birth of the Atlantic World
Introduction
- The atlantic world is a historical concept, a place defined
as all the lands that touch the Atlantics. Furthermore it is
the concept of these lands that were and continued to
grow intimately connected. These connections were
human, cultural, biological with little regard for
boundaries. These things moved throughout this world.
- You cannot understand the history of these regions in
isolation. For example to understand the history of
virginia, you have to understand the interconnectedness
to Africa, Europe, etc in a broad era.
Native American Migrations
- All of the indigenous people across the Americas. Most of
these societies were nonliterate, did not leave written
records. oral tradition was common, archaeological remnants and european records
are provided as sources.
- These groups migrated slowly over 1000s of years. via the bering Strait pursuing
large game, berries and nuts that they eat seasonally.
- These groups splinter off. Some stay in Canada while some move south and so on.
This leads to 1000s of distinct cultures.
Native North America
- Indigenous societies interacted extensively with each other: trade, marriage,
fighting, enslavement.
- Adopted group and family identities. Groups are multiethnic.
- Village based societies were often run by individual men of high status due to
military or religious attribution.
- There were often very careful patterns of who could marry who; what group, into or
out of what group.
- Ritualized religious activity
- Territories were not defined by borders but more by feautures, religious, hunting,
etc.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
- Social hierarchies were not common because there was not a huge acquisition of
property.
- Gender roles were evened out but there were gender roles. Women and men were
involved in different activities but both were seen as valuable.
- Native American societies have been reshaping the physical environment: fire,
- Indigenous people have been isolated for 1000s of years from the old world. They
are not exposed to pathogens, language, and culture of the old world.
Africa
- Not until about 1900 did more europeans move to the Americas than Africa.
- Africa before 1491 was a deeply powerful place. Africa for milenia had been an
international place.
- People came to Africa for Gold in exchange for guns, steel, western luxury goods,
and liquor.
- At the time western Africa was a metropolitan place. Most of Africa was like the rest
of the world: Villages, subsistence farming which sometimes acquired a surplus.
These societies were typically patriarcal and sometimes matriarcal.
- These Societies placed great emphasis on ancestor worship.
- War is prevalent in Africa at this time. There were struggle over resources and trade
routes.
Europe
- Is the driving force that ties the atlantic world together.
- Europe in 1400 is a very particular place economically, socially and culturally. There
was tremendous activity for 300 years.
- Europe has recovered from the plague. The population has corrected itself in size.
Those living in 1400 are much wealthier, have a higher standard of living.
- Europe economically is very dynamic with a large trade network involving
monarchies and empires.
- Towns develop and become economic engines in which bankers, merchants and
traders live, where business is conducted. These towns are disgusting and
dangerous but nonetheless important.
- Europe becomes more integrated. They fight but trade together. The concept of
being european developes.
- The sense of being christian and european is increasing because of the Crusade.
They are anti semitic and feel threatened by islamics.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The atlantic world is a historical concept, a place defined as all the lands that touch the atlantics. Furthermore it is the concept of these lands that were and continued to grow intimately connected. These connections were human, cultural, biological with little regard for boundaries. You cannot understand the history of these regions in isolation. For example to understand the history of virginia, you have to understand the interconnectedness to africa, europe, etc in a broad era. All of the indigenous people across the americas. Most of these societies were nonliterate, did not leave written records. oral tradition was common, archaeological remnants and european records are provided as sources. These groups migrated slowly over 1000s of years. via the bering strait pursuing large game, berries and nuts that they eat seasonally. Some stay in canada while some move south and so on. Indigenous societies interacted extensively with each other: trade, marriage, fighting, enslavement.
