History Notes

1.1 Indian and Non-Indian Population Charts (1492-1980)  Questions 1.     Put this rate of decline in perspective by thinking about a family, a clan, or a tribe. Speculate about the social impact. Imagine a State – say, Wisconsin, with a population of about 5 million in 1990 – losing 95 percent of its people. How would the survivors feel? How could they maintain their economic activities?-The rate of Decline of the American Indians is drastic! They are almost wiped out by the 1900s. With the loss of 95 percent of the population, the survivors probably felt a little survivors guilt and felt that they were surrounded by death. The Economic activities would be gone altogether and the American Indians where probably very poor at that point in time.2. In which years were Indian and non- Indian populations even? Why did rapid Indian decline occur before the arrival of many non-Indians?-The Indians and non-Indians where equal in population between the 1800s and the 1900s. There was a rapid Indian decline before the arrival of many non-Indians because the first non-Indians who came initially brought many diseases and the Spanish conquered the Indians.3. The non-Indian population rose dramatically after 1800, and the Indian population recovered after 1900. Why?-The non-Indian population rose dramatically after the 1800 because there was a massive immigration and high fertility rates. The Indian population recovered because the Indians had been exposed to the disease and there where high fertility rates.

Chapter 1 The New Global World 1450-1620

1.2 The Discover and Conquest of Mexico (1517-1521)Questions1. What "unusual" customs or rituals did Diaz del Castillo observe?-Diaz del Castillo observed the Indians giving them women, the Indians giving human hearts up for offering, eating the feet arms and legs of their victims, selling them in the market place, also there where priests that guarded a pile of bones and a pile of skulls.2. Diaz del Castillo emphasized the strange and the bizarre. Can you spot any similarities between the Native American and Spanish cultures?-Native American and Spanish Cultures both had strong religion and priests.3. Do you think Cortes could have conquered Mexico with out Indian allies? Why or why not?-No I do not think Cortes could have conquered Mexico with out Indian allies because Montezuma was so fortified and so well guarded that with out the help of Indian allies they could not have won.

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