Early america as the new world
The concept of "Early America" as the "New World" refers to the period of European exploration, colonization, and settlement of the Americas, which began in the late 15th century and continued until the mid-18th century. During this time, the Americas were seen as a new and uncharted territory, full of unknown lands, peoples, and resources.
The term "New World" was first used by Christopher Columbus in 1493, when he referred to the Americas as "the new world" in his letters to the Spanish monarchs. This term was later adopted by other European explorers and settlers, who saw the Americas as a place of opportunity and discovery.
Early America as the New World was characterized by:
- European Exploration: The period of European exploration of the Americas, which began with Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492 and continued until the early 16th century. During this time, European explorers such as Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Hernando Cortés mapped the coastlines, discovered new lands, and established trade routes.
- Colonization: The establishment of permanent European settlements in the Americas, which began in the early 16th century. The first successful English colony was established at Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, followed by the establishment of other colonies in Massachusetts, New York, and other parts of North America.
- Native American Encounter: The encounter between European colonizers and Native American populations, which had a profound impact on both groups. Many Native American populations were decimated by diseases brought over by Europeans, to which they had no immunity, and were also displaced from their lands by European colonization.
- Slavery: The transatlantic slave trade, which brought millions of enslaved Africans to the Americas, where they were forced to work on plantations and in other industries.
- Conflict and War: The conflicts and wars that arose between European colonizers, Native American populations, and African slaves, including the Pequot War, the King Philip's War, and the American Revolutionary War.
Some of the key figures associated with Early America as the New World include:
- Christopher Columbus: The Italian explorer who led the first European expedition to the Americas in 1492.
- Vasco da Gama: The Portuguese explorer who discovered the sea route to India and established trade routes between Europe and Asia.
- Ferdinand Magellan: The Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe.
- Hernando Cortés: The Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire in Mexico.
- John Smith: The English colonist who played a key role in the establishment of the Jamestown colony in Virginia.
- Pocahontas: The Native American woman who played a key role in the establishment of the Jamestown colony and later married John Rolfe.
- William Bradford: The English colonist who wrote the book "Of Plymouth Plantation," which chronicled the history of the Pilgrims and their settlement at Plymouth Colony.
Some of the key events associated with Early America as the New World include:
- The Columbian Exchange: The exchange of plants, animals, and cultures between the Old World and the New World, which had a profound impact on both regions.
- The Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire: The conquest of the Aztec Empire by Spanish conquistadors, which led to the establishment of Spanish colonies in Mexico and Central America.
- The English Settlement of Jamestown: The establishment of the first successful English colony in North America, which was established in 1607.
- The Pilgrims' Journey to Plymouth: The journey of the Pilgrims from England to Plymouth, Massachusetts, which was established in 1620.
- The Pequot War: The conflict between the English colonists and the Pequot Native American tribe, which was fought in the 1630s.
Overall, Early America as the New World was a period of exploration, colonization, and conflict, which had a profound impact on the development of the Americas and the world.