1.1 Context: European Encounters in the Americas
3 min read•january 18, 2023
Jillian Holbrook
Caleb Lagerwey
Jillian Holbrook
Caleb Lagerwey
Contextualization
From in 9 APUSH Historical Thinking Skills:
Contextualization involves the ability to put something in its proper historical context—understanding an event or document in relation to what else was happening at the same time, in the same area, or within the same long-term process. To demonstrate this skill, you should be able to:
place events or documents within the broader context of time and place
understand how an event relates to what else was going on locally, regionally, nationally, or globally
draw conclusions about an event or perspective based on its relation to the broader historical context
The historical thinking skill of involves having students place an event in its proper historical context. To demonstrate this historical thinking skill, students should be able to understand an event or document in relation to what else was happening at the same time or within the same time period. It is a difficult skill because students actually have to explain what was going on during the period, and they should be able to identify key people and events.
Period 1 (1491-1607)
Why 1491 to 1607? In short, 1491 is one year prior to "in 1492, sailed the ocean blue". We begin the first period of APUSH in 1491 as a realization that sophisticated societies and cultures existed in the New World long before the arrival of Europeans. The period ends in 1607 because that is the year of the first successful English settlement in the New World: Jamestown, Virginia.
Bering Land Bridge
The first people to inhabit North and came across the . The connected and approximately 20,000 years ago in the area of the present-day Bering Sea between and . Nomadic Asian hunters came across the bridge looking for big game animals, such as woolly mammoths and saber-tooth tigers. The hunters settled throughout North and .
Cahokia, as it may have appeared around 1150 CE. Painting by Michael Hampshire for the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.
The people that first inhabited North and transformed and adapted to their environments. These groups settled into varying tribes and developed various agricultural techniques and social structures.
Before and other European explorers set foot in , North and South American indigenous tribes had formed highly complex and organized societies. One of them was Cahokia, a large fortification and ceremonial site in Illinois that originally rose high above the river, representing the greatest achievement of the . It supported a population of 20,000 people, larger than many European cities at the time. Despite these advances by Native Tribes, they were unprepared for the weaponry and diseases brought by .
Since there were significant declines in the Native populations due to diseases, European settlers turned to to kidnapping and enslaving to meet the labor needs of this new world. The first enslaved people arrived in 1501. Eventually, over 11.2 million Africans were brought across the (millions perished during the arduous journey).
The clash of Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans produced a new society in both North and . In their interactions, these groups asserted divergent world views regarding issues such as religion, gender roles, family, land use, and power that shifted through interaction.
Key Terms to Review (18)
African People
: Referring specifically to historical context for AP US History exams, this term often refers to Africans who were captured and transported against their will during the Transatlantic Slave Trade from Africa to America.Alaska
: Alaska is a U.S. state situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent. It's known for its diverse terrain, wildlife and significant native cultures.APUSH Historical Thinking Skills
: These are a set of skills that students need to master for the Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH) exam. They include understanding causation, continuity and change over time, comparison, contextualization, historical interpretation and synthesis.Atlantic Ocean
: The second largest ocean on Earth, located between the Americas to its west and Africa and Europe to its east.Bering Land Bridge
: The Bering Land Bridge, also known as Beringia, was a strip of land connecting Siberia and Alaska that emerged during the Ice Age. It served as a migration route for people, animals, and plants between Eurasia and North America.Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
: The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is a pre-Columbian Native American city (c. 600–1400 CE) directly across the Mississippi River from modern St. Louis, Missouri. This historic park lies in southern Illinois between East St. Louis and Collinsville.Christopher Columbus
: An Italian explorer sponsored by Spain who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening up widespread European exploration and eventual conquest of Americas.Contextualization
: Contextualization refers to the ability to place events, ideas, or individuals within a larger historical context to better understand their significance. It's about understanding the 'bigger picture' and how specific details fit into it.Eurasia
: Eurasia is a combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia. It's the largest continental area on Earth spanning from Atlantic Ocean on west to Pacific Ocean on east.European explorers and settlers
: These were individuals from various European countries who, during the Age of Discovery (15th to 17th centuries), embarked on voyages across the Atlantic Ocean to explore, colonize, and exploit resources in the Americas.Jamestown, Virginia
: Established in 1607 by English settlers from London Company, Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America.Mississippi people
: The Mississippi people were a Native American civilization that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1600 CE.North America
: North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It includes countries like Canada, United States, Mexico and many smaller states in Central America and Caribbean islands.Period 1 (1491-1607)
: This is the first period in AP US History that covers the time from pre-Columbian native societies before Columbus' arrival in 1492, to the establishment of permanent English colonies by 1607.San Salvador
: San Salvador is an island in present-day Bahamas where Christopher Columbus first landed during his voyage in 1492. It was originally named Guanahani by its native inhabitants but renamed by Columbus.Sarah Bradstreet
: Sarah Bradstreet was an early American settler who lived in Massachusetts during the 17th century. She was known for her legal battles over property rights after her husband's death - a rare feat for women during this period.Siberia
: Siberia is an extensive geographical region spanning much of Eurasia and North Asia. It has been part of modern Russia since approximately the 17th century.South America
: South America is a continent in the Western Hemisphere, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It's known for its diverse cultures, geography, and history that includes ancient civilizations like the Inca.1.1 Context: European Encounters in the Americas
3 min read•january 18, 2023
Jillian Holbrook
Caleb Lagerwey
Jillian Holbrook
Caleb Lagerwey
Contextualization
From in 9 APUSH Historical Thinking Skills:
Contextualization involves the ability to put something in its proper historical context—understanding an event or document in relation to what else was happening at the same time, in the same area, or within the same long-term process. To demonstrate this skill, you should be able to:
place events or documents within the broader context of time and place
understand how an event relates to what else was going on locally, regionally, nationally, or globally
draw conclusions about an event or perspective based on its relation to the broader historical context
The historical thinking skill of involves having students place an event in its proper historical context. To demonstrate this historical thinking skill, students should be able to understand an event or document in relation to what else was happening at the same time or within the same time period. It is a difficult skill because students actually have to explain what was going on during the period, and they should be able to identify key people and events.
Period 1 (1491-1607)
Why 1491 to 1607? In short, 1491 is one year prior to "in 1492, sailed the ocean blue". We begin the first period of APUSH in 1491 as a realization that sophisticated societies and cultures existed in the New World long before the arrival of Europeans. The period ends in 1607 because that is the year of the first successful English settlement in the New World: Jamestown, Virginia.
Bering Land Bridge
The first people to inhabit North and came across the . The connected and approximately 20,000 years ago in the area of the present-day Bering Sea between and . Nomadic Asian hunters came across the bridge looking for big game animals, such as woolly mammoths and saber-tooth tigers. The hunters settled throughout North and .
Cahokia, as it may have appeared around 1150 CE. Painting by Michael Hampshire for the Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.
The people that first inhabited North and transformed and adapted to their environments. These groups settled into varying tribes and developed various agricultural techniques and social structures.
Before and other European explorers set foot in , North and South American indigenous tribes had formed highly complex and organized societies. One of them was Cahokia, a large fortification and ceremonial site in Illinois that originally rose high above the river, representing the greatest achievement of the . It supported a population of 20,000 people, larger than many European cities at the time. Despite these advances by Native Tribes, they were unprepared for the weaponry and diseases brought by .
Since there were significant declines in the Native populations due to diseases, European settlers turned to to kidnapping and enslaving to meet the labor needs of this new world. The first enslaved people arrived in 1501. Eventually, over 11.2 million Africans were brought across the (millions perished during the arduous journey).
The clash of Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans produced a new society in both North and . In their interactions, these groups asserted divergent world views regarding issues such as religion, gender roles, family, land use, and power that shifted through interaction.
Key Terms to Review (18)
African People
: Referring specifically to historical context for AP US History exams, this term often refers to Africans who were captured and transported against their will during the Transatlantic Slave Trade from Africa to America.Alaska
: Alaska is a U.S. state situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent. It's known for its diverse terrain, wildlife and significant native cultures.APUSH Historical Thinking Skills
: These are a set of skills that students need to master for the Advanced Placement U.S. History (APUSH) exam. They include understanding causation, continuity and change over time, comparison, contextualization, historical interpretation and synthesis.Atlantic Ocean
: The second largest ocean on Earth, located between the Americas to its west and Africa and Europe to its east.Bering Land Bridge
: The Bering Land Bridge, also known as Beringia, was a strip of land connecting Siberia and Alaska that emerged during the Ice Age. It served as a migration route for people, animals, and plants between Eurasia and North America.Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site
: The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is a pre-Columbian Native American city (c. 600–1400 CE) directly across the Mississippi River from modern St. Louis, Missouri. This historic park lies in southern Illinois between East St. Louis and Collinsville.Christopher Columbus
: An Italian explorer sponsored by Spain who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening up widespread European exploration and eventual conquest of Americas.Contextualization
: Contextualization refers to the ability to place events, ideas, or individuals within a larger historical context to better understand their significance. It's about understanding the 'bigger picture' and how specific details fit into it.Eurasia
: Eurasia is a combined continental landmass of Europe and Asia. It's the largest continental area on Earth spanning from Atlantic Ocean on west to Pacific Ocean on east.European explorers and settlers
: These were individuals from various European countries who, during the Age of Discovery (15th to 17th centuries), embarked on voyages across the Atlantic Ocean to explore, colonize, and exploit resources in the Americas.Jamestown, Virginia
: Established in 1607 by English settlers from London Company, Jamestown was the first permanent English settlement in North America.Mississippi people
: The Mississippi people were a Native American civilization that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from approximately 800 CE to 1600 CE.North America
: North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost all within the Western Hemisphere. It includes countries like Canada, United States, Mexico and many smaller states in Central America and Caribbean islands.Period 1 (1491-1607)
: This is the first period in AP US History that covers the time from pre-Columbian native societies before Columbus' arrival in 1492, to the establishment of permanent English colonies by 1607.San Salvador
: San Salvador is an island in present-day Bahamas where Christopher Columbus first landed during his voyage in 1492. It was originally named Guanahani by its native inhabitants but renamed by Columbus.Sarah Bradstreet
: Sarah Bradstreet was an early American settler who lived in Massachusetts during the 17th century. She was known for her legal battles over property rights after her husband's death - a rare feat for women during this period.Siberia
: Siberia is an extensive geographical region spanning much of Eurasia and North Asia. It has been part of modern Russia since approximately the 17th century.South America
: South America is a continent in the Western Hemisphere, primarily in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. It's known for its diverse cultures, geography, and history that includes ancient civilizations like the Inca.
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