Big History

Big Big HistoryHistory

Theme 2Theme 2

By Kristi BeriaBy Kristi Beria

Guns, Germs, & SteelGuns, Germs, & SteelThe Geographic Luck of the DrawThe Geographic Luck of the Draw

Certain geographical factors Certain geographical factors allowed certain civilizations to allowed certain civilizations to flourish while others died off.flourish while others died off.

Some of the first farmers in the Some of the first farmers in the world were found in the Middle world were found in the Middle East where barley and wheat were East where barley and wheat were cultivated.cultivated.

More productive crops allowed More productive crops allowed for a more productive society.for a more productive society.

Crops and animals that flourished Crops and animals that flourished in the Fertile Crescent were in the Fertile Crescent were cultivated on similar lines of cultivated on similar lines of latitude along the east-west axis latitude along the east-west axis of Eurasia.of Eurasia.

Europeans took plants and Europeans took plants and animals to the New World.animals to the New World.

Guns, Germs, & SteelGuns, Germs, & SteelTechnologyTechnology

Having a reliable food supply means a larger Having a reliable food supply means a larger population with more potential inventors.population with more potential inventors.

Societies then passed on inventions and knowledge Societies then passed on inventions and knowledge through migration.through migration.

Those societies that didn’t acquire or invent their own Those societies that didn’t acquire or invent their own technologies died out. technologies died out.

Hunter-gatherer societies, that spent all of their time Hunter-gatherer societies, that spent all of their time looking for food, were being replaced by permanent looking for food, were being replaced by permanent societies that could spend more time finding new societies that could spend more time finding new ways to make life easier.ways to make life easier.

European technology had an easier time spreading European technology had an easier time spreading east to west (same day length and climate) than did east to west (same day length and climate) than did the peoples of the Americas whose continent is laid the peoples of the Americas whose continent is laid out north to south (different day length and climate).out north to south (different day length and climate).

Guns and the production of harder and stronger steel Guns and the production of harder and stronger steel led to the demise of the less technologically advanced led to the demise of the less technologically advanced societies.societies.

Guns, Germs, & SteelGuns, Germs, & SteelGerm TheoryGerm Theory

Disease played a huge role in the European conquest of Disease played a huge role in the European conquest of the New World.the New World.

The spread of smallpox to the Americas can be traced to The spread of smallpox to the Americas can be traced to a slave brought aboard a Spanish ship to Mexico. a slave brought aboard a Spanish ship to Mexico.

Smallpox swept through Central America until it Smallpox swept through Central America until it reached the Incan Empire.reached the Incan Empire.

Along with horses, guns, and swords, disease played a Along with horses, guns, and swords, disease played a part in the decimation of whole civilizations by the part in the decimation of whole civilizations by the Europeans.Europeans.

Many diseases came from domesticated animals.Many diseases came from domesticated animals. Thousands of Europeans were also killed, but many Thousands of Europeans were also killed, but many

generations of exposure to these diseases provided some generations of exposure to these diseases provided some immunity.immunity.

After the Incan Empire was brought down, the After the Incan Empire was brought down, the Europeans colonized the rest of Peru, Africa, Australia, Europeans colonized the rest of Peru, Africa, Australia, and much of Asia.and much of Asia.

New World SlaveryNew World SlaveryThe Beginnings of InequalityThe Beginnings of Inequality

Arabs and Muslims were the first to create a Arabs and Muslims were the first to create a slave trade from sub-Saharan Africa. slave trade from sub-Saharan Africa.

It is estimated that 14 million slaves were sent It is estimated that 14 million slaves were sent to Muslim regions.to Muslim regions.

The first stirrings of racism resulted from The first stirrings of racism resulted from slaves being seen doing the dirtiest and lowest slaves being seen doing the dirtiest and lowest work and therefore thought to be less work and therefore thought to be less intelligent than the rest of the population.intelligent than the rest of the population.

Moorish corsairs enslaved people from Italy to Moorish corsairs enslaved people from Italy to Iceland.Iceland.

Once people had a taste of sugar, slaves were Once people had a taste of sugar, slaves were used to work sugar cane fields all over the used to work sugar cane fields all over the world. world.

Sao Tome imported more African slaves than Sao Tome imported more African slaves than Europe, the Americas, or other Atlantic island Europe, the Americas, or other Atlantic island combined.combined.

New World SlaveryNew World Slavery The Beginnings of InequalityThe Beginnings of Inequality

Amerindian slaves were sold by the Amerindian slaves were sold by the Conquistadors to Panama, Peru, and the Conquistadors to Panama, Peru, and the Caribbean and were used by the Portuguese Caribbean and were used by the Portuguese to produce sugar. to produce sugar.

As a result of Columbus’ voyage to the As a result of Columbus’ voyage to the New World, the population of mainland New World, the population of mainland North and South America was reduced by North and South America was reduced by 90% due to disease.90% due to disease.

The Europeans turned to African slave The Europeans turned to African slave labor to colonize the New World.labor to colonize the New World.

By the year 1820, at least 10 million slaves By the year 1820, at least 10 million slaves had been shipped to the New World as had been shipped to the New World as opposed to only 2 million Europeans.opposed to only 2 million Europeans.

The export of rice, tobacco, indigo, cotton, The export of rice, tobacco, indigo, cotton, and sugar laid the groundwork for and sugar laid the groundwork for everything that America would become.everything that America would become.

America was built upon the backs of slaves America was built upon the backs of slaves that worked the land, yet most do not that worked the land, yet most do not acknowledge this fact.acknowledge this fact.

Peoples and EmpiresPeoples and EmpiresEmpiresEmpires

Throughout history, empires have both helped create new civilizations and destroy Throughout history, empires have both helped create new civilizations and destroy others.others.

Most empires were created out of both force and the desire to spread one’s Most empires were created out of both force and the desire to spread one’s ideology.ideology.

The search for new resources, better climates, and for man’s desire to posses led to The search for new resources, better climates, and for man’s desire to posses led to the expansion of empires.the expansion of empires.

The expansion of empires had enveloped different races, languages, and cultures The expansion of empires had enveloped different races, languages, and cultures and has allowed the diversity of culture that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.and has allowed the diversity of culture that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.

Peoples and EmpiresPeoples and EmpiresIn the name of religion….In the name of religion….

Many conquering societies did so in Many conquering societies did so in the name of religion.the name of religion.

Christian Roman emperors took on Christian Roman emperors took on the role of defender of the church and the role of defender of the church and took it upon themselves to spread the took it upon themselves to spread the word of Christ to the ignorant non-word of Christ to the ignorant non-Christians.Christians.

Priests and clergymen often Priests and clergymen often accompanied Spanish armies.accompanied Spanish armies.

Ministers and missionaries led the Ministers and missionaries led the religious crusade into India, Asia, religious crusade into India, Asia, Africa, and the Americas in order to Africa, and the Americas in order to bring Christ to the entire world.bring Christ to the entire world.

Many people were enslaved in the Many people were enslaved in the name of bringing their souls to the name of bringing their souls to the Lord.Lord.

Peoples and EmpiresPeoples and Empires“Are these not men?”“Are these not men?”

Every empire up to the beginning of Every empire up to the beginning of the 19the 19thth century were slave owning century were slave owning societies.societies.

Modern slavery decimated entire Modern slavery decimated entire cultures in Africa and made new ones cultures in Africa and made new ones on the far side of the Atlantic.on the far side of the Atlantic.

In 1511, Bartolome de Las Casas In 1511, Bartolome de Las Casas became a crusader to stop the slavery became a crusader to stop the slavery of native Indians on the island of of native Indians on the island of Hispaniola. Hispaniola.

The first European state to outlaw The first European state to outlaw slavery was Denmark in 1792.slavery was Denmark in 1792.

By 1824, slavery became a capital By 1824, slavery became a capital offense.offense.

Slavery came to an end in European Slavery came to an end in European territories during the early 19territories during the early 19thth century. century.