CONFRONATATION OF CULTURES

CONFRONATATION OF CULTURESSaran VarmaXI B

OBJECTIVES

TIMELINE

3

INTRODUCTIONEuropean conquests of the people of America was accompanied by the ruthless destruction of their manuscripts and monuments.Ariel photography has revealed traces of many lost and hidden cities in the forests.The European side of the journeys in contrast are known in great detail because they used to keep log diaries and journals.South America is still densely forested and hides many secrets!Migrations used to take place here before eve the Europeans came

COMMUNITIESThe empires mentioned here are:Caribbean and Brazilians 1.1 Arawakians 1.2 TupinambasState systems of Central & South America 2.1 The Aztecs 2.2 The Mayas 2.3 The Incas

VOYAGES OF EXPLORATIONThe people of South America & Caribbean came to know about the Europeans when the latter began to sail across the seas.Larger ships were built, that could carry huge quantities of cargo and defense equipment's . The circulation of books on cosmography, travelogues & geographies created widespread interest.People of the Iberian Peninsula were pioneers in the 15th century voyages. Economic, Political & Religious reasons compelled people to venture out into the seas.

VOYAGES OF EXPLORATION (cont.)Plague and wars led to depopulation in Europe, trade grew slack due to the closing of gates of Constantinople by Turks, and there was a shortage of gold and silver to mint currencies.The possibility of bringing more people under the folds of Christianity also made many devout Christian Europeans to face adventure.During the crusades, the trade between Europe and Asia increased which led to them developing a taste for Asian products, especially spices.

VOYAGES OF EXPLORATION (cont.)

In Spain, economic reasons encouraged individuals to become the knights of the ocean.

THE ATLANTIC CROSSINGChristopher Columbus (1451 1506 ) was an Italian self taught man who sought adventure and glory. He wanted to discover a route to the East (Indies) by sailing westwards.He was turned down by the Portuguese when he submitted his plans but succeeded with the Spanish Authorities. They sanctioned an expedition that set sail from Palos on August 1492.After 33 days of sailing, on 12th Oct 1492, they sighted land, which he thought was India, but was the island of Guanahani in Bahamas where he planted a Spanish flag.

THE ATLANTIC CROSSING (cont.)They were welcomed by the Arawaks, who were happy to share their food and provisions with the crew.He proclaimed himself viceroy & enlisted their cooperation in pressing forward to larger islands.Before they could go far, they faced many accidents and the wrath of the Carib tribes. This made them clamour back to their homes.3 more voyages followed during which Columbus completed his explorations. Subsequent voyages revealed that it was a new continent and not Indies.

SPANISH EMPIRE IN AMERICASpanish expansion was based on a display of military strength with the use of gunpowder and of horses.The local people were compelled to either pay tribute or to work in gold and silver mines. Local chieftains were enlisted to explore new lands & more sources of gold.Diseases of the Old World, particularly small pox wrecked havoc on the local population whose lack of immunity led to large scale deaths.The expeditions of Columbus were followed by a sustained and successful exploration of Central & South America.

1.1 THE ARAWAKIANSThe Arawakians lived on a cluster of islands in the Caribbean sea ( Bahamas ).They were peace loving people who preferred negotiation to conflict.They were skilled boat makers. They lived by hunting, fishing, growing corn, sweet potatoes, tubers, cassava.They produced food collectively to feed everyone in the community.Polygamy was common.

1.1 THE ARAWAKIANS (cont.)They used gold for ornaments, but they did not attach any value to it.Europeans tricked them into buying ordinary glass beads in exchange for gold since the Arawak's thought they were more attractive and nave.The art of weaving was highly developed. The hammocks were one of their specialties.

1.2 THE TUPINAMBA

They lived on the east coast of South America, and in the villages in the forests.They had no access to iron so they possessed no weapons.They depended on the forest for every of their needs, so they never went for cultivation.

1.3 CABRAL & BRAZIL

In 1500, a procession of ships from Portugal set out for India, headed by Pedro Alvares Cabral, made a wide loop to avoid stormy seas around West Africa & reached Brazil.This area was already assigned in their maps, so they regarded the territory as theirs indisputably.They exploited the timber resources extensively.

1.3 CABRAL & BRAZIL (cont.)The trade in timber led to fierce battles between the Portugese & the French. The former won the battles though.The Portugese who wanted to live there were given land ownership rights. In 1540s, the Portugese started plantations and built mills to extract sugar.The natives kept retreating into the forest to escape the Europeans, & in a short time there were no native villages left.

2.1 THE AZTECS

2.1 THE AZTECS - INTRODUCTIONThey migrated to central valley of Mexico from the north in 12th century.Expanded by defeating many tribes and establishing a hierarchical society.The nobility were a minority who occupied senior positions in the government.

2.1.1 THE AZTEC SOCIETY STRUCTURE

2.1.2 SOCIETY OF AZTECS

The Aztecs undertook many reclamations since land was limited.They made artificial islands known as chinampas upon which the magnificent city of Tenochtitlan was built.The most impressive temples of the Aztecs were dedicated to the gods of Sun and War.

2.1.3 AGRICULTURE IN AN AZTEC SOCITEY

The empire rested on a rural base. People cultivated corn, beans, squash, pumpkins, manioc root, potatoes and other crops.Land was owned by clans which also organized public construction works.The poor sometimes used to sell their children but they could buy back their freedom.

2.1.4 EDUCATION OF AZTECS

The Aztecs made sure that their children went to school.Children of nobility Calemac military & religious leaders.Other kids Tepochcalli learned history, myths, religion, ceremonial songs.Boys received military training as well agriculture.Girls were trained in domestic skills.

2.1.5 STRAINS IN THE EMPIRE

In the early 16th century dicontent grew among newly conquered tribes who wanted to be free.Herman Cortes, a Spanish explorer & his officials joined hands with Totonacs to give a tough fight against Tlaxcalans who submitted after a stiff resistance.They marched and reached Tenochtitlan on 8th Nov 1519.

2.1.6 CONQUERING OF THE AZTECSCortes was received by Montezuma cordially and showered with gifts. He then placed Montezuma under house arrest and attempted to rule in his name.They tried to Christianize the empire when Montezuma suggested a compromise by placing both Aztec & Christian images in temples.When Cortes returned back from Cuba on 25th Jun 1520, there was full blown crisis. They retreated since they faced an acute shortage of supplies.

2.1.7 SPANISH MEXICOAround this time, Montezuma died under mysterious circumstances. La Noche Triste (The night of sorrows) on 30th Jun 1520 wherein Cortes and his army of Spanish conquistadors and native allies fought their way out of Tenochtitlan.By then, Aztecs were dying of smallpox which came with the Europeans.Conquering the Aztecs took 2 years. Cotes became the Captain General of New Spain in Mexico. From Mexico, they further extended their control to Guatemala, Nicargua & Honduras.

2.2 THE MAYAS

2.2.1 THE MAYAS INTRODUCTION The Mayan culture of Mexico developed remarkably between the 11th & 14th centuries, but in the 16th century they had a lot less political power than the Aztecs.Corn cultivation was central to their culture, and many religious ceremonies were centered on planting, growing and harvesting of corn.Efficient agricultural production generated surplus, which helped the ruling classes, priests and chiefs to invest in architecture and in the development of astronomy and mathematics.

2.2.2 MAYAN SOCIETY STRUCTURE

2.2.3 WRITING SYSTEM

The Mayas devised a pictographic form of writing that has only been deciphered partially.

2.1 THE MAYAS

2.3 THE INCAS

2.3.1 THE INCAS - INTRODUCTION

It was the largest indigenous civilizations in South America. In the 12th century the 1st Inca, Manco Capac, established his capital at Cuzco.The empire was highly centralized. Newly conquered tribes were absorbed effectively and every subject was required to speak Quechua. Each tribe was ruled independently by a council of elders, but the tribe as a whole owed allegiance to the king.

2.3.2 THE SOCIAL STRUCTURE

2.3.3 ARCHITECTURE

The Incas were magnificent builders. They built roads through mountains from Ecuador to Chile.They used labour intensive technology to carve and move stones from nearby rock falls.Labour was organized and tightly managed.

2.3.4 AGRICULTURE & LIVING

The basis of the Inca civilization was agriculture. To cope with the infertile soil conditions, they terraced hillsides and developed systems of irrigation and drainage.The Incas grew corn and potatoes, reared llamas for food & labour.Their weaving & pottery were of high quality

2.3.5 WRITING

They did not develop a system of writing.However, there was an accounting system in place the quipu, or cords upon which knots were made to indicate specific mathematical units.Some scholars suggest that the Incas wove a sort of code into these threads.

2.3.6 PIZARRO & THE INCAS

He was uneducated & poor when he joined the army & found his way to the Caribbean Islands in 1502.He made repeated attempts to reach the Inca lands because of the fables that he had heard.He talked it through with the king & was promised governorship of the lands if conquered them.In 1532, after Atahualpa secured the throne through a civil war Pizarro captured him & put him under house arrest.

2.3.6 PIZARRO & THE INCAS (cont.)

He had the king executed and he & his followers went on a looting spree.The cruelty of the conquerors provoked an uprising in 1534 that continued for 2 years, during which thousands died in war & epidemics.In another 5 years, the Spanish had located the vast mines and to work these they made the Inca people into slaves.

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