Compare And Contrast Africa And American Civilizations

When the Europeans came to America, they were introduced to new foods such as corn, white and sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes, cacao, fruits, peppers, peanuts, sugar cane, and tobacco were many of the new foods enjoyed by Europeans. Also they were introduced with animals as well such as wild turkeys, llamas, and alpacas, which were brought back to Europe. Native American Indians traded some luxury items for the Europeans such as furs. The discovery of huge amount of gold, silver, and other treasures prompted the conquistadors to launch expeditions to the Americas, but also the fertile soil, lured many Europeans and made them to leave Europe for America in the search of the opportunities for a better life. When they were moving to America they brought with them horses, oxen, donkeys, and camels which was very valuable for that period of time because

Africa, like many other continents, was a very tremendous and a very diverse civilization that is very complicated to introduce due to all its wonderful but also diverse features and beliefs. From the differences between its society and language to its religion and politics, Africa always had the reputation that its empires, cities, and kingdoms never progressed in the developments and achievements for their civilization. Many people believed that the Europeans were actually the cause of Africa’s achievements and advanced developments for their civilizations. However, this is further than the whole truth. Before the arrival of the Europeans between the 15th and 16th century, African kingdoms, empires, and cities had many achievements and accomplishments

3. Sixteenth century Africa compared to sixteenth century Europe politically because many African states were highly organized, rivaling the European states. Also, in the economic aspect, many port cities existed that allowed a great amount of trading with Europe. Now in the military aspect, Europeans had superior firearms but were unable to overpower Africans on the inside.

Throughout history, many can see differences in the empires of America and the empires of Africa, but some fundamental similarities exist among these empires that make them successful. While each of these empires is deeply rooted in promoting economic growth and spiritual connectivity, they go about these tasks in different ways due to their individual and unique circumstances.

Before Europeans landed in the Americas, Native Americans lived within various complex societies across modern day North and South America. Two of the greatest empires that existed at the time were the Aztecs located in modern central Mexico or at the time it was called Mesoamerica and the Incas located in modern Peru, these societies were unique because they were ruled by kings, nobles and warriors whereas most North American Natives were ruled by chiefdoms. North American Native’s religion consisted of animist quality- a belief that the natural world had spiritual powers. They applied this belief to everyday life- praying to be exempt from disease, good crops, and plenty of food. Some societies amongst many North American Natives were matriarchal for example in the Iroquois society power and possessions were passed down through the female line of authority. Most women were gatherers and watched over the towns and men hunted for food for their families, maize agriculture was popular amongst the Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes Natives. The Native Americans traded extensively before the Europeans arrived, for example there were annual trade fairs between the Navajos, Apaches and the Pueblos. In 1521, Hernan Cortes arrived in Mesoamerica and quickly overcame the Aztecs, not only by force but also disease. Europeans unknowingly brought many diseases, such as smallpox, influenza and measles, that the Native Americans were never exposed to and it was one of the biggest killers of the Natives. At first, Europeans forced Native Americans to be slaves and work on their plantations but soon they were replaced with the African slave.

Multiple large-scale transformations were generated by Europe. For example, one major transformation that the European empires caused would collapse Native American societies as they were. Yet another of these transformations would be the introduction as it were of trade. Europeans were capable of exchanging plants and animals which facetted the creation of better crops in the Americas. With a large amount of plantation workers in the Americas, Europe was able to link with America and Europe to form the cotton and Sugar trade.

7. The Age of Exploration had a long-lasting effect on Africa and the Americas. Europeans were initially interested in finding alternate trade routes to Asia because the Ottoman Empire had monopolized the routes that had been used in the past. The Americas were discovered on accident, but shortly afterwards Europeans began to colonize the continent. As a result, Native Americans suffered as well as Africans who were later exploited during the Atlantic slave trade.

The exchange between the Old World and the New World, which was referred the Columbian Exchange, have been changing the lives of the people both in the America and the Europe. Many crops, plants and animals were introduced and had an important influence in the world history. Otherwise, it brought dangerous diseases which killed a lot of the native Americans due to not having natural immunity. Aside new diseases, the Spanish also carried the resources from the Old World, and it has changed both natural and human in the Americas. Being different from other European colonization, the royal Spanish pacified the Indians by Catholic missionaries. In fact, to the natives, these men were killing their families, taking their lands, and destroying their earth. The conquests shaped the emerging system of land ownership. The hacienda system developed because conquistadors fought seeking wealth and land grants. Castas, people of mixed blood, became the largest social class in the 18th century. In the result, the present-day Americas are more mixed races than anywhere on the planet, and it becomes one of the defining characteristics of the Americas today. The conquest of America, although progressive, should not be considered a positive movement. From its beginning after discovery, to its end in 1825, the conquests led to

In the midst of the Renaissance, world trade was prosperous and vast. Nations established personal control through the commercial contacts that they established. In an effort to shorten certain trading routes and obtain a more surmountable amount of natural resources, many nations entered the Age of Exploration circa 1500. Christopher Columbus, in an effort to discover a more efficient route from Western Europe to India, accidently unearthed the Americas in 1492. His discovery led many other European nations to pursue imperialistic endeavors in what had become known as the New World. Two Spanish conquistadors, Cortez and Pizarro, made a profound impact on the areas they conquered in the New World. In Mexico, the native Aztecs were overpowered by Cortez’ forces. A majority fell ill from susceptibility to European diseases, while the rest were placed into coercive labor systems. Similar fates were bestowed upon the Incas subjected to

Most people believe that all ancient civilizations were the same: they all lived with a steadfast loyalty to their one and only king that ruled all of the lands, civilizations only achievements were monumental buildings, and they vacuously attacked neighboring societies to gain more land for millennia. While some of this knowledge is true to an extent, civilizations accomplished an abundance more than some realize. Some fail to register that early civilizations are unique from each other. Egypt and Mesopotamia were two distinct civilizations. Despite similarities such as both being river civilizations, Egypt and Mesopotamia contrasted with each other in the areas of, type of ruling, religion, and

European Imperialism heavily impacted the African continent through culturally, economic, and political ideas. This era of history is heavily drenched in the aspect of ethnocentrism, which is the belief that one’s own culture is superior that of another. The Europeans colonized Africa believing that they could bring civilization, but they were often ignorant of Africa’s very complex societies. The European powers divided up the continent of Africa among themselves, without any consent from the people who actually lived there. The tribal stratification was changed to a caste system where racial, ethnic, and religious differences were of utmost importance, as delegated by European rule. The structure and business of the African economy was

As the years go on this would began the countries of Africa being taken over and ran by foreigners. Each power would see the great opportunities that Africa would have to offer during these 300 years of exploring and expanding their empire. As the wheels start turning of this quest soon begins conflict and with conflict evolution has started. Operating in Africa meant they needed to protect what they had built in their time there. Technological development started to happen with weapons and warfare. Better weapons meant better protection, as the years would go on it would become its own business on its own.

Consider how Africa’s geography has changed over time. What positive and negative effects would these changes have had on human populations on the continent? As their new homes changed they were able to adapt due to their innovative mindset. This can be attributed to the new found organization thanks to language. Allowing Africans to grow and expand throughout the entire continent. Other factors that can be attributed are the change in geography for some parts such as the Sahara drying out and swamps and lakes disappeared.

Early civilization shared similar common features, because all of these societies were under the same pressures. Their whole purpose was survival as it is to this day. Each societies main focus was to become established, stay in one place provide food, shelter and protection for their families. Early civilizations materialize along rivers, because rivers supplied a continuous and dependable supply of water for farming and human consumption. Agriculture today has had an enormous benefit on today’s society, there are now more farmers growing organic fruits and vegetables because the realize the great health benefits organic foods have on human consumption, providing less risk of pesticides and or chemicals on their food.

Going back to the 1860s, Africa was an unknown continent to many Europeans. Most Europeans only had colonies on the coastline, such as current day Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal etc. The only people to go into the interior of Africa was missionaries, reporters and traders. As people of Europe discover more about Africa, discoveries will begin the Scramble of Africa, an event in which very rapidly, Europe was able conquer most if not all of Africa. They did this with technological and medical advances, economic reasons, and the motivation of prestige and White Man’s Burden.