CONFRONTAION OF CULTURES

CONFRONTATION OF CULTURES

• Encounters between Europeans and the people of the Americas between the 15^th and 17^th centuries.
• Geographical explorations. Lead by Spain and Portugal.
• Christopher Columbus, an Italian, sponsored by the rulers of Spain, sailed west in 1492, and thought that the lands he reached were ‘the indies’ (Indian and countries east of India).
• Later explorations indicated that the ‘Indians’ of the ‘new world’ actually belonged to the ‘Americas’.

CONFRONTATION OF CULTURES

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• European conquest of the people of America was accompanied by the ruthless destruction of their manuscripts and monuments.
• It was only the late 19^th C that anthropologists began to study these cultures. Still later the Archaeologists found the ruins of these civilizations.
• Discovery of the Americas.

Map of South America

COMMUNITIES OF THE CARIBBEAN AND BRAZIL

• The Aravakian Lucayos lived on a cluster of hundreds of small islands in the Caribbean Sea, today known as the Bahamas.
• Skilled boat builders.
• They lived by hunting, fishing and agriculture, growing corn, sweet potatoes and cassava (tapioca).
• Produce food collectively and feed everyone in the community.
• Organised under clan elders, polygamy was common.
• The Arawaks were Animists (Animists believe that even objects regarded by modern science as ‘inanimate’ may have life or soul.)

Communities of the Caribbean and Brazil

• The Arawaks used gold for ornaments, but did not attach the value to the metal that the Europeans did. They were quite happy to exchange gold for glass beads brought by the Europeans (more beautiful).
• The art of weaving was highly developed- the hammock was one of their specialties.
• Happy to collaborate with the Spanish in their search for gold, when the Spanish became brutal they began to resist.

The Arawaks

COMMUNITIES OF THE CARIBBEAN AND BRAZIL

• People called Tupinamba lived on the east coast of south America and villages in the

forests(the name ‘Brazil’ is derived from the brazil wood tree).

• No access to iron for clear the dense forests for cultivation, but they had plentiful supply of fruits, vegetables and fish, and so did not have to depend on agriculture.
• The Europeans who met them envied their happy freedom, with no king, army or church to regulate their lives.

Brazil wood Tree

Tupinamba

The State System of Central & South America

• In contrast to the Caribbean and Brazil, there were some highly organized states in central America

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• There was a general surplus of corn, which provided the basis for the urbanized civilizations of the Aztecs, Mayas and Incas.

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• The monumental architectural remains of these cities mesmerise visitors today.

The Aztecs

• Mexico centred culture- in 12^th C migrated from north to central valley of Mexico, they expanded their empire by defeating different tribes, who were forced to pay tribute.

The Aztecs

• Aztec society was hierarchical;
• The nobility-nobles, priests, high ranked persons.
• The nobles chose from among them a supreme leader who ruled until his death. The king was regarded as the representative of the sun on earth.
• Warriors, priests and nobles were the most respected groups. Talented artisans, physicians and wise teachers were also respected.
• Traders also enjoyed many privileges.

The Aztecs

• since land was limited, they made chinampas, artificial islands, in lake Mexico, by weaving huge reed-mats and covering them with mud and plants. Between these islands, canals were constructed on which, in 1325, was built the capital city Tenochtitlan. Palaces and pyramids constructed.
• Temples were dedicated to the gods of war and the sun.

Chinampas

Chinampas

Chinampas

Tenochtitlan, the capital city

The Aztecs

• The empire rested on a rural base.
• People cultivated corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, potatoes and manioc root.
• Land was owned not by individuals but by clans.
• Peasants cultivated the land of the nobles by giving a share of the harvest.

The Aztecs

• Gave stress on education-provided to all children.
• Children of the nobility-calmecac- trained to become military and religious leaders.
• Tepochcalli-educational institutions-learned history, myths, religion and ceremonial songs.

The Aztecs

• Boys received military training as well as training in agriculture and the trades.
• Girls were trained in domestic skills.
• In the early 16^th C, Aztec empire began to decline, mainly due to discontent among recently conquered people.

The Mayas

The Mayas

• The Mayan culture of Mexico developed between the 11^th 14^th centuries, but less political power than the Aztecs.
• Corn cultivation was backbone of their culture and many religious ceremonies were centred on the planting, growing and harvesting of corn.
• Agricultural surplus helped the ruling classes, priests and chiefs to invest in architecture and in the development of astronomy and mathematics.
• The Mayas developed a pictographic form of writing that has only been partially deciphered.

The Mayan civilization

The Mayan remains

The Incas

The Incas (Quechuas) of Peru

• The largest civilization in South America.
• In 12^th C the first Inca, Manco Capac, established his capital at Cuzco. Expansion began under ninth Inca, extended the empire from Ecuador to Chile-3,000 miles.

Cuzco

The Incas (Quechuas) of Peru

• Centralised administration under the king.

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• The Incas were magnificent builders. They built roads through mountains from Ecuador to Chile.

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• Forts were built of stone slabs, weighed more than 100 metric tones, but they did not have any wheeled vehicles to transport these-labour intensive.

Mountain Road-present view

Construction of Incas

The Inca city of Manchu Pichu (Discovered in 1911)

The Incas of Peru

• The basis of Inca civilization was agriculture.
• Corn and potatoes-major crops.
• High quality weaving and pottery.
• They did not develop a system of writing. However there was an accounting system-the quipu, knots were made to indicate mathematical units in to the threads.
• Hierarchical society-no private ownership of resources

–high status to priests-large temples were built-gold was used ritually-no great value placed on gold and silver – contrast to European society.

Quipu

Quipu

Corn

Corn field

CORN

Voyages of Exploration by Europeans

• Geographical discoveries began in the 15^th and 16^th centuries.
• Invention of the magnetic compass.
• Larger ships, carry a huge quantity of cargo as well as equipment.
• The circulation of travelogues.
• Printed version of Ptolemy’s Geography.
• Love of adventure.
• Patronage of kings.

Voyages of Exploration by Europeans

• Pioneers of 15^th C exploration:
• Portugal and Spain
• Why?
• Economic, Political and Religious reasons.
• Economic decline due to wars,

of gold and silver for coins, and fall of Constantinople.

• Desire to spread Christianity.

Voyages of Exploration by Europeans

• Interest in profitable Asian trade- spices
• Interest in Gold
• Role of Henry the Navigator of Portugal.

The Atlantic crossing

• Christopher Columbus(1451-1506)
• 1492, August 3-started from the port of Palos, Spain.

*Fleet with 40 sailors

1. Santa Maria
2. Pinta 3.Nina

The Atlantic crossing

• On 12^th Oct.1492, they sighted land; they had reached what Columbus thought was India, but which was the island of Guanahani in the Bahamas
• They were welcomed by the Arawaks, who were happy to share everything.
• Columbus planted a Spanish flag, proclaimed himself Viceroy, without consulting natives.
• Attempt to reach Cuba, but faced the hostility of the fierce Carib tribes. The crew tired and homesick-return.

Voyages by Europeans

• 1492 – Columbus claims Bahama islands and Cuba for Spain.
• 1494 – The ‘undiscovered world’ divided between Portugal & Spain.
• 1497 – John Cabot, English man, explores North American coast.
• 1498 – Vasco de Gama reaches Kozhikkode, India.
• 1499 – Amerigo Vespucci sights South American coast.
• 1500 – Cabral claims Brazil for Portugal.
• 1521 – Cortes defeats Aztecs.
• 1522 – Magellan circumnavigates the globe.
• 1532 – Pizarro conquers Inca kingdom.
• 1571 – Spanish conquer Philippines.
• 1600 – British East India Company formed.
• 1602 – Dutch East India Company formed.

Spain establishes an Empire in America

• Spanish expansion was based on display of military strength with the use of gun powder and of horses. The local people were compelled either to pay tribute or to work in gold and silver mines.
• The greed for gold led to violent incidents provoking local resistance.
• Military repression, forced labour, and diseases like small pox resulted in large scale deaths.
• The extinction of the Arawaks and all traces of their way of life is a silent reminder of their tragic encounter with Spaniards.

Cortes and the Aztecs

• In 1519 Hernando Cortes discovered Mexico and conquered the Aztecs.

Cortes and the Aztecs

• The Aztec king, Montezuma, sent an official to meet Cortes. He was terrified at the aggressiveness of the Spanish, their gun powder and their horses.
• Montezuma himself was convinced that Cortes was the reincarnation of an exiled god who had returned to avenge himself.
• Cortes suppressed the resistance and marched to Tenochtitlan.(5 times larger than Madrid and had 1lakh inhabitants)

Cortes and the Aztecs

• Cortes was cordially welcomed by Montezuma.
• Gradually without any explanation placed the emperor under house arrest and attempted to rule in his name, installed Christian images in the Aztec temple.
• Cortes back to Cuba.
• Spanish occupation and more demands for gold provoked a general uprising. Cortes returned on 25 June 1520. Crisis;
• Causeways were cut, bridges taken away and the roads closed. Shortage of food and drinking water- Cortes was forced to retreat.

Cortes and the Aztecs

• Montezuma died under mysterious circumstances. Cuatemoc became the new king.
• The Aztecs continued their resistance. By then, the Aztecs were dying from the dreaded Small pox which had come with the Europeans.
• With just 180 soldiers and 30 horses, Cortes moved into Tenochtitlan, the Aztecs thought that their end was near, the emperor give up his life.
• Final defeat of the Aztecs and the extended their control over Guatemala, Nicaragua and Honduras.
• The fall of the Aztec Empire was the key event in the formation of New Spain, which would later be known as Mexico.
• Cortes became Captain General of New Spain in Mexico.

Dona Marina

• The people of Tabasco gave Cortes a woman attendant called Dona Marina. She was fluent in 3 local languages, and was able to play a crucial role as interpreter for Cortes. Without Dona Marina the Mexican Conquest was not possible.

Pizarro and the Incas

• Peru was discovered by

Francisco Pizarro. Here the Spaniards found gold and silver far exceeding those of Mexico. All this was seized from the peaceful people called

the Incas with an amount of greed, cunning and cruelty having perhaps

no parallel in world history. These riches of Mexico and Peru made

Spain suddenly rich.

Pizarro and the Incas

Cabral and Brazil

• A Portuguese sailor, Pedro Alwaris Cabral, reached Brazil in 1500.
• The Portuguese occupation of Brazil occurred by accident.
• Aim-India. To avoid stormy seas anchored at Brazil.

Cabral and Brazil

• They exploited natural resources, especially, timber, the Brazil wood tree. It produced a beautiful re dye.
• The native readily agreed to cut the trees in exchange for iron knives and saws. (For one sickle, knife or comb they would bring loads of hens, monkeys, parrots, honey, wax, cotton thread and whatever else these poor people had.
• Conflicts between Portuguese and French traders for timber. The Portuguese won.
• In 1540s, the Portuguese began to grow sugarcane on large plantations and built mills to extract sugar, which was then sold in Europe.

Cabral and Brazil

• Depend the natives to work- slaves – escaped to forest.
• Plantation owners forced to turn to another source of slaves: West Africa.
• In 1549, a formal govt. under the Portuguese king was established, with the capital in Bahia/Salvador.
• From this time Jesuits started to go out to Brazil, they strongly criticised slavery.

Conquest, colonies and the Slave trade

• The geographical discoveries created far reaching consequences in Europe, America and Africa.
• The flood of gold and silver from newly discovered America helped for the expansion of international trade and industrialization.
• The merchants of England, France, Belgium and Holland formed joint stock companies and sent out trading expeditions, established colonies and introduced Europeans to the products of the New world, including tobacco, potatoes, cane sugar, cocoa and rubber.

Conquest, colonies and the Slave trade

• For the native people of the Americas, the immediate consequences were;

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1. Killing of local populations, destruction of their way of life.

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1. Slavery- Enslavement in mines, plantations and mills.

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1. The sudden destruction of two major civilizations- The Aztecs and the Incas.

Slavery

Slavery

Slavery

Epilogue

• In the early 19^th C, European settlers in the South American colonies were to rebel against Spain and Portugal and become independent countries.
• In 1776 the 13 North American colonies

rebelled against Britain and formed the United States of America.

• South America today is also called Latin

America. This is because Spanish and Portuguese, two of the main language of the continent, are part of the Latin family of languages.

• The inhabitants are mostly Catholics.
• Their culture has many elements of native traditions mixed with European ones.

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