Text | Lanzi Ji
Ed Lanzi Ji
As we all know, modern America has long been understood.
However, do you have the same interest in its past years of change and expansion?
In the following days, let's start with the Vikings' contact with the American continent from 800 BC, and integrate 10 precious historical pictures to vividly show the cultural collision and territorial expansion scenes of the United States in that era...
Vikings and the Americas from 800-1015
The community created by the red-haired Eric on the coast of Greenland in 986 AD stands out.
It is believed that the community lived until 1450 AD, while another community further south was inhabited by what was once known as Vinland, probably continuing to around 1300 AD.
However, the complexity of this history of human exploration lies not only in the length of its time span, but also in the ambiguity of its geographical positioning.
Although the pioneers pioneered by ancestors such as the red-haired Eric have been accurately identified and studied, the geographical location of the areas they named and explored, such as Herluland, Macran, and Vinland, remains controversial.
European expeditions to the Americas, 1492-1534
Next, we will analyze the important geographical discoveries made by Balboa and Columbus in the Caribbean and the Americas in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.
We cannot fail to mention the great discovery of Balboa, on September 25, 13, 16th century.
It was through his tireless efforts and courageous spirit of exploration that mankind successfully opened a route to the Pacific Ocean, which was a landmark event.
Since then, the Pacific Ocean has been able to unravel its mysteries and reveal its magnificent natural beauty and rich diversity of species.
Secondly, Columbus undertook four expeditionary voyages between 1492 and 1504.
Through his great voyage, a new world was gradually revealed.
He discovered and named Jamaica, Hispaniola, Cuba, Puerto Rico, and produced a series of detailed and accurate maps.
This made a qualitative leap in Europeans' understanding of the South American continent and laid a solid foundation for a series of subsequent colonial exploration activities.
By 1520, the Spaniards had already set foot in many of South America's coastal areas and embarked on further expeditions.
Over time, they gradually occupied and controlled territory after territory, which paved the way for the beginning of an entire colonial era.
Spanish Expeditions and Conquests 1513-1543
In less than 13 years, the three major ancient civilizations around the world, the Mayan civilization and the Aztec civilization, have been devastated.
The culprit of this tragic event is neither natural disasters nor natural or man-made disasters, but stems from the mutual hostility and oppression of human beings themselves.
The Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés succeeded in conquering the Mayan Indians in 1519 AD.
In the same year, the leader of the Aztecs, Montjuma, invited Cortés to visit Tenogtitlan with great ceremonies, but he was captured by Cortés.
Not only did Cortés torture Montjuma, but in 1521 he also brutally suppressed it, sparking a revolt that would destabilize the entire empire.
After this event, the great and mysterious Mayan culture and the Aztec civilization fell.
Puritan immigrants from England 1612-1646
Beginning in 1560, the strict English Puritans committed to a deep reform of the Anglican Church, with the aim of eliminating the remnants of Catholicism from within it.
This combination of religious fervor and the idea of social progress led to a fierce protest in 1603, officially declaring war on the crown.
Although the revolution ultimately failed, the potential energy it unleashed was breathtaking.
After that, a group of extreme Puritans, who were both theoretical and practical, decided to leave their homeland and seek a new home in New England.
In 1620, the Puritans brought the seeds of the Reformation to the American continent and took deep roots in the land.
English origin of the Puritans, 1620-1675
It is true that since 1675, the North American colonies have attracted numerous Puritan immigrants.
Thanks to their efforts, a vibrant and vibrant city was born and gave it its unique name.
These cities are like bright pearls, embedded in the vast North American continent, witnessing the changes of history and the development of human civilization.
During the American Revolution, these cities were the cornerstone of the cry for freedom.
Colonies established by Europeans in North America from 1526 to 1642
In 1526, more than 500 adventurers from Spain decided to carve out a colony in the Bay of Winjo.
However, the harsh reality gave these brave pioneers a head-on blow.
After going through many hardships and dangers, they failed to realize their expected dreams.
In 1584, the great English adventurer Walter Reilly stepped forward on Roanoke Island and established two colonies there.
However, one of the colonies did not last long and was eventually abandoned.
It is commendable that a small number of committed colonists remained in the other colony, although they gradually disappeared from sight after 1590.
Grant of land in England in 1606-1620
Jamestown is undoubtedly a very representative and important location in American history.
Originally designated as a colony, the site was founded by the British in 1607.
In 1607-1608, however, life was not easy, and many people died of famine and disease.
Finally, in 1609, he succeeded in mastering the cultivation of maize, which led to the establishment of an independent and self-sufficient agricultural production system.
This move undoubtedly played a decisive role in the settlement and survival of Jamestown.
In the years that followed, the residents of Jamestown demonstrated extraordinary creativity and innovation.
In the 17th century, they bravely carried out the first experimental cultivation of tobacco.
Thankfully, in 1619 they also created a Great Council that brought together a large number of people, from experts in drafting laws and regulations to judges at all levels.
The Pecot War of 1636-1637
Since ancient times, there have been conflicts and estrangements in human society.
Such contradictions, at certain moments in the long course of history, often provoke large-scale wars.
For example, the American Revolution as we know it is exemplified. What is less well known, however, is a brutal war between the English colony of Massachusetts and the Native American Pecot War.
The war began with a massacre in the summer of 1636.
At that time, a wealthy trader from Boston was brutally murdered on Block Island.
In order to avenge the killers, the British Massachusetts government organized a powerful army of 120 British soldiers and a number of Mohican natives to launch a violent counterattack against the Pecot tribe.
After fierce fighting, some 500 young men, women and children of the Pekot tribe were slaughtered on the banks of the Mystic River.
This conflict not only brought great disasters to the people of Pecot, but also further exacerbated the disharmony between Britain and the United States.
Behind this seemingly peaceful struggle, there are many complex factors.
First of all, we need to understand that the vast majority of Pecots are active traders engaged in the exchange of goods.
However, this traditional economic activity has touched a sensitive nerve among British immigrants in the region.
In their view, Block Island, as an important military stronghold and trade center, would not allow any outsiders to interfere with its prosperity and stability.
Battle of King Philip of 1675-1676
Over time, until 1671, many Native American tribes became alarmed to find themselves surrounded by the English and facing the fate of being forcibly disarmed.
Since then, some indigenous people have come together to seek strength against the invaders.
Among them, the Wabanog nation, led by Philip, is the most prominent. Cherishing their homeland and freedom, they actively reached out to the Naragansitl, Nipmuk, and Bodenk communities in order to jointly respond to external threats.
However, the development of events was not satisfactory.
By 1675, the English army had gradually besieged Philip in the Marshes of Pocassette and was fighting the Narragancitl with all their might.
In order to defend their dignity and defend their homeland, the indigenous people launched a counteroffensive.
In the battle of early 1676, they achieved remarkable results.
However, in the end, the defeat could not be recovered due to heavy casualties.
When autumn came, the momentum of the counteroffensive was completely curbed by the British army, and they had to accept the fact of defeat.
Thirteen colonies in 1624-1774
Over the course of 132 years, the 13 colonies from 1624 to 1774 have nurtured a unique and brilliant cultural heritage.
However, in the process of growing stronger, the colonial people also experienced many hardships and challenges.
From the very beginning, these colonies faced one of the most serious social problems – crime.
During this time, more than 50,000 convicted prisoners convicted in England were relocated to the 13 colonies in exchange for commutation of sentences.
Unfortunately, the inadequacy of the judicial system has created the possibility for some criminals to escape punishment.
In addition to the high crime rate, disease was one of the major problems plaguing these colonies.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, microbiology was still in its infancy, and knowledge of many diseases was still quite limited.
In 1721, for example, an outbreak of smallpox in the Mississippi River Valley hit the population hard, killing one-seventh of the population.
In addition, the laws and policies pursued by each colony in the process of development also differed.
Georgia, for example, was the first state to prohibit the slave trade in 1732, but in 1794 slavery was enforced in South Carolina.
Such differences in social systems undoubtedly reflect the differences between different regions and the far-reaching effects that arise from them.
epilogue
In the vast history of mankind, the intersection of geography and history has created a unique and precious treasure - maps.
It reveals in a detailed and vivid way the landscape of the earth's countryside and cities, as well as the evolution of various historical periods and civilizations, like a long scroll of history, vividly and profoundly reproducing those bygone years.
The map in our hands is not only a reference for real life, but also a tunnel through time and space.
As the historical heritage of society, the map has witnessed and engraved the rise and fall of one great nation after another, showing a wonderful picture of multicultural exchange and integration in the era of globalization.
Because of this, we can say that for thousands of years, the map has been an epic chapter full of passion and vitality, carefully carved and printed, and still shining after the baptism of wind and rain, ups and downs.
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