Early Contact with the New World (1491-1607)
Joseph Brown
9 min read
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Study Guide Overview
This study guide covers Period 1 of AP US History (1491-1607), focusing on European exploration and colonization of the Americas. Key topics include: European exploration and discovery, the Columbian Exchange, the shift from the Encomienda System to African slavery, and the social, economic, and religious impacts of colonization. Important figures like Columbus, Cortés, and Pizarro are highlighted, along with key events like the founding of Jamestown. The guide also provides practice questions and exam tips.
#AP US History: Period 1 - Exploration & Colonization (1491-1607) 🚀
Hey future APUSH rockstar! Let's get you prepped for Period 1. This period is all about the initial European exploration and colonization of the Americas, and the massive changes it brought. Think of it as the opening chapter of a huge story! Let's dive in!
#1. European Exploration & Discovery (Pre-Jamestown)
#1.1 The Race for Resources and Routes 🗺️
- European Powers: England, Spain, Portugal, and France were all competing for resources and trade routes. It was like a high-stakes game of global Monopoly!
- Columbus's Voyage (1492): He wasn't looking for America, but he bumped into the Bahamas while trying to find a westward route to Asia. Oops! 🤷🏽♀️ *
Columbus landed in the Bahamas at San Salvador.
#1.2 Spanish Dominance 👑
- Conquistadors: Think of guys like Francisco Pizarro and Hernán Cortés. They were after gold and silver and weren't afraid to use force.
- Aztec and Inca Empires: These powerful empires in Mexico and Peru were conquered, leading to massive wealth for Spain but also horrific loss of life for the natives. 💔 *
Advanced weaponry + European diseases = devastating losses for Native populations.
Caption: Spanish conquistadors claimed vast territories and resources, often through violent conquest and exploitation of indigenous populations.
#2. The Columbian Exchange 🔄
#2.1 Economic Transformation 💸
- What is it? The exchange of plants, animals, ideas, and diseases between the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) and the New World (Americas).
- New World to Old World: Potatoes, corn, beans, and tobacco. The potato was a game-changer in Europe! 🥔
- Old World to New World: Wheat, rice, sugarcane, horses, cows, and pigs. These animals transformed the environment and economies of the Americas. *
The introduction of the potato to Europe led to a population boom.
#2.2 Social & Cultural Impacts
- Interconnected World: The exchange led to a more globalized world, with cultures mixing and changing. 🌍
- Joint-Stock Companies: England and the Dutch formed these to fund colonies and find riches. Think of it as early venture capital.
- Roanoke: The first English co...
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