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SCOPE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
HST 306 - STUDIES IN UNITED STATES HISTORY
WEEK 1
BASIC COMPETENCIES:
Students understand the scope of the United States nation
INDICATOR:
1. Students are able to understand the characteristics of the United States nation
2. Students are able to understand the origin of the terms America, Latin America, and the
United States.
A. Characteristics of the United States Nation
The term history etymologically (literally) comes from the Arabic word syajarahtun
which means knowledge about birth, growth, and death, so the term history can be interpreted
as a knowledge about birth, growth and death.The ancients had a habit of writing down
human genealogies for generations which included everything related to birth, growth and
death.However, the Javanese prefer to interpret history as babad, meaning stories about
human genealogies.
The term history is also found in many languages such as in English (history), German
(geschichte), Dutch (geschiedenis), French (histoire).The term history in English history
etymologically comes from the Greek istoria (noun) which means a systematic description
both chronologically and non-chronologically about a set of natural phenomena.
In recent times, the non-chronological systematic study of natural phenomena is better
known as scientia (Latin), while the term istoria is reserved for the systematic study of
phenomena related to all human affairs in chronological order.
Historians in reconstructing history, the results are always subjective because the facts
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are only a symbol or representative of something that once existed, and the facts only exist in
the mind of the historian as a reconstructor. Scientific writing that has a near-objective truth
requires an understanding and application of a set of historical theories and methodologies in
a consistent and highly disciplined manner so as to obtain the results of scientific historical
writing (descriptive-analytic).
Latin America brings to mind the name of a people and a region north of Rome. The
Latin people were far more advanced and civilized than the Romans, in fact the Romans
tapped into the Latin civilization. However, the Latin people also tapped into the cultural
foundations of the Etruscans who had long lived in the Latin area. After the Etruscan
civilization retreated, the Latin civilization grew and developed.
Latin civilization had a profound effect on the Western Roman Empire. When the
Western Roman Empire reached the age of Pax Romana, then the culture of Rome was
separated from Latin civilization such as the system of organization, law, military, so that the
Latin name remained alive and lived most of Roman life. Jan Romein argues that Latin
civilization influenced the "New Roman" people which included: Italy, France, Spain, and
Portugal. The "New Romans" have now spread throughout the world, especially in Central
and South America.
The Spanish and Portuguese who colonized large parts of America consciously or
unconsciously have instilled Latin civilization into the American continent, so that the area is
known as Latin America. The former Spanish and Portuguese colonies included in the Latin
American region include: Brazil, Haiti, Mexico, Cuba, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador,
Nicaragua, Suriname, Costa Rica, Venesuela, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Panama,
Jamaica, Bolivia, Barbados, Bahamas, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Trinidad and Tobago,
and the Dominican Republic.
The term United States of America (USA) comes from the English United States of
America (USA).This term refers to a Federal Republic located in the North American
continent.Eleven countries were originally British colonies, but on July 4, 1776 the colonies
succeeded in liberating themselves from the British colonial government.
The United States at the time of independence consisted of only thirteen states, but
today the country consists of 50 states including: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New York,New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Idaho, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Lowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Lousiana,
Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississipi, Missouri, Montana, Nabraska, Nevada, New
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Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah,
Vermont, Washington D.C..
From the explanation of the characteristics of the American nation, the scope of
United States history studied in the American history course includes discussion: The
Discoverers of the American Continent, Life of the Colonies in North America, The American
Revolution, The Formation of the National Government, Westward Expansion, The Civil
War, The Reconstruction Period, United States Involvement in World War I and World War
II.
In studying history we must be able to relate two aspects, namely spatial and temporal.
America as a spatial aspect has meaning as a new country because it was only discovered by
Christoporus Columbus on October 10, 1492. America as a temporal aspect as a modern
foundation, namely at the time of discovery in Europe entered the period of rationalism.
The characteristics of the United States nation include:
1) The people of the United States are liberty-minded
It is this freedom factor that has become the culture of the United States. However, it
does not mean absolute liberty, but rather responsible liberty, meaning free actions that
do not reduce the freedom of others.
2) Americans are progressive
This trait is driven by the hope of opportunity spirit because the newly discovered place
of America is an expanse of land with untapped natural content that encourages them to
jointly utilize it.
3) Another characteristic of the United States is pragmatism
The Americans on their voyages always experience disasters such as big storms, so they
cannot bring a lot of material, so they are pragmatic to bring only enough material /
supplies that make them have to be able to solve with their abilities.
4) The nation of the United States is individualistic
The American people have a spirit of freedom, so An independent or individualistic spirit
emerges to survive. The individualistic nature is also shaped by the principle of
protestantism, namely the priesthood of all believers, which means that everyone
becomes their own priest. This motto emerged as a criticism of the priests of the Middle
Ages who abused authority.
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B. Definition of United States History
The history of the United States began when the British government organized
colonialism activities against the 13 colonies located in the northern American continent. The
colonies lived in an atmosphere of mercantilism economic system where they were required
to provide raw materials and precious metals as commodities needed in European markets.
British industrial goods at prices set by the government of the mother country
(England). In addition to having to bear various taxes set by the mother country, the colonists
were prohibited from conducting illicit trade with other geese or countries.
They tried to release the shackles that afflicted them by uniting against the British
colonial government and the struggle by proclaiming themselves as the nation of the United
States by establishing the United Stated of America on July 4, 1776. The history of the United
States does not stop there, but this is the beginning of the struggle of the United States in the
history of the nation's struggle in an effort to build the country of the United States.
In this regard, the history of the United States includes a discussion of the
development of the struggle of the United States nation in achieving glorious achievements in
the fields of democratic development, the development of science and technology, the
creation of security, political and economic stability that can deliver the American state as a
super power that can control the world.
C. Origin of the Term America, Latin America, United States of America
To know about the origin of the term America, it can be associated with the name
Amerigo Vespucci. He was a close friend of Christoporus Columbus who both came from
Genoa (Italy). When Christoporus Columbus accepted the offer of the King of Spain,
Ferdinan, to sail across the ocean in search of India, which is said to be the place of origin of
spices, he received support from Amerigo Vespucci. He recorded everything that was seen,
encountered, felt and experienced while sailing the ocean with the expedition group of
Christoporus Columbus until the expedition succeeded in finding the American continent.
Everything recorded by Amerigo Vespucci turned out to be an important document
related to the discovery of the American continent.Both people have an important role in the
discovery of the American continent. Christoporus Columbus played an important role in
leading the expedition to discover the American continent, while Amerigo Vespucci acted as
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a recorder of all matters related to the discovery of the American continent, which records
became important documents in naming the new continent discovered by Columbus by the
name of America.
The origin of the term America is related to the name Amerigo Vespucci, a member of
Christoporus Columbus' expedition who bequeathed important documents related to the
discovery of the Americas. The term Latin America is related to the Latin civilization spread
by the Spanish and Portuguese in Central and South America. The term United States of
America relates to the Federal Republic with 50 states located in the Northern part of the
American continent.
The history of the United States in this course is a study of history starting from the
British government establishing its power in the northern American continent along the east
coast and the formation of the United States to the nation's struggle to advance democracy,
science and technology and the active role of the United States in World War I and World
War II. The scope of United States history includes discussion of: the discoverers of the
American continent, the life of the colonists in northern America, the American Revolution,
the formation of the national government, westward expansion, The Civil War, the
reconstruction period, the involvement of the United States in World War I and World War II.
The purpose of studying the history of the United States is to know thoroughly the
historical development of the United States nation starting from the migration of the
Mongoloid race from Asia to the American continent, followed by the migration of
Europeans, especially the British, the efforts of the colonists to establish the United States
until this country played an active role in World War I, World War II.
About
1. What is the history of the United States?
2. What is the scope of United States history?
3. What is the purpose of studying United States history?
4. List and explain the characteristics of the United States nation?
OCEAN EXPLORER AND DISCOVERER OF THE AMERICAS
BASIC COMPETENCIES:
Students understand about oceanic exploration and the discovery of the Americas
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INDICATOR
1. Students are able to understand the arrival of the mongoloid race from Asia to the
Americas
2. Students can understand the Mayan and Aztec Civilizations
3. Students are able to understand the teachings of Nicholas Capernicus
4. Students are able to understand the expeditions and discoveries of Barthomelvus Diaz &
Christopher Columbus
A. The arrival of the Mongoloid Race from Asia to the Americas
Archaeologists and anthropologists have never found fossils of ancient ape-like
humans such as Meganthropus Paleojavanicus, Pithecantropus Erectus found in Java.In fact,
apes are not native to the Americas, because based on the results of ancient research, no
fossils of apes have been found on this continent.
Archaeologists agree that the ancestors of the Indians were evolved varieties of homo
sapiens. According to archaeologists, they began to settle in the new continent of America
since the Plestocene Period (Ice Age around 34,000 - 30,000 BCE) after obtaining cultural
equipment, warm clothing and adequate shelter to survive in the cold climate of the new area.
They are thought to have originated from the Asian mainland of China and belong to
the Mongoloid race that came to the American continent through the Siberian route of the
Bering Strait to Alaska which at that time there were still roads.There is no archaeological
evidence that explains the reasons why they migrated to the American continent.Whether they
moved from mainland China in Asia to the American continent because they were pursued by
enemies or moved to find food, there is no result of ancient research that answers it.
After they arrived in Alaska then moved slowly southward and arrived in Mexico
around 10,000 B.C. From Mexico then they crossed Central America and arrived in South
America. By the time they arrived in South America (+ 10,000 B.C.) the Ice Age ended
(1,000,000-50,000 B.C.) which resulted in the disconnection of the Seberia-Alaska land route
due to the melting of the north polar ice which eventually gave rise to the Bering Strait.
The first group of Indians to build earthen hills in what is now Adenan were called
Adenan people.They began building coffins and forts of clay around 600 B.C.E. Some of the
monuments from that time later resembled the shapes of birds and snakes.These monuments
were probably used for religious purposes that have not been fully understood until now.
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In what is now the southwestern United States, the Anasazi, ancestors of the modern
Hopi Indians, began building pueblos, stone and clay houses, around 900 BC. These unique
buildings, which resemble modern-day apartments, were usually built along a coral wall. The
most famous is the coral palace at Meso Verde, Colorado, which has over 200 rooms. Another
building, the pueblo of Bonito whose ruins are scattered along the Chaco river in New
Mexico, is thought to have once contained more than 800 rooms.
Probably the most prosperous American Indians before Columbus' arrival lived in the
Pacific Northwest, where natural foods ranging from fish to raw materials were plentiful and
village life was possible around 1,000 BCE.
The ancestors of the Indians migrated to the Americas in small groups gradually
through eastern Siberia, the Bering Strait, and then to Alaska in the northern Americas. This
crossing could never have been easy. Indeed, several times during the Plestocene Period the
sea level dropped by more than 100 meters due to the absorption of sea water by glaciers
during the Ice Age, leaving the strait as dry land. Those who walked across the Bering land
bridge encountered obstacles.
Most of the time when sea levels were low, the glaciers were huge and the untraversed
ice sheets in southern Alaska and western Canada blocked the way south. Or maybe they had
walked across the land bridge when the strait was dry, then they lived for centuries in the ice-
free regions of Alaska and western Canada until the glaciers retreated and there was a way to
the more attractive regions of north America. It is possible that this alternating process took
place several times and each time introduced a new wave from Siberia.
Until relatively recently, none of these Asian migrants were Mongoloids in the modern
sense, because the true Mongoloids as now characteristically manifested in the Chinese had
not yet emerged from evolution or at least had not yet reached eastern Siberia. It is even
possible that the waves of migrants were physically diverse.What best supports this theory is
that the waves of Indians were diverse.
In general, the farther they lived from the Bering Strait, the earlier they were
considered to have left Asia, and thus the less similar they were to present-day Mongolians.
Some groups had pointed noses, long heads, or curly hair, as opposed to the snub-nosed,
round-headed, straight-haired, narrow-eyed features of present-day Mongolians. The theory of
people arriving in waves from Siberia fits well to explain this difference, as each wave
became more and more Mongoloid.
According to some anthropologists, the early settlers were almost uniform and the
division of the Indians into groups was a result of "gene drift" and climate adjustment. Gene
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drift is a random change in heredity within a small, isolated group. For example, if a group of
30 primitive hunters is dominated by two or three strong males, the offspring of that group are
very likely to show the characteristics of some of those men. It might be taller than the rest of
the group or it might have lighter skin or a longer nose.
In large populations with much interbreeding, such distinctive traits soon become
prevalent, but in small groups they tend to remain unchanged and become more prominent. If
a small group thrives and grows in size, it will probably grow into a large ethnic group with
fixed traits that occur from the distinctiveness of its few ancestors.
In creating the different peoples of the Americas, gene drift was certainly aided by the
different climates encountered by the settlers Indians living in hot, humid regions tend to be
smaller and slimmer than those in colder regions. This is certainly in contrast to Indians living
in the cold Andes Mountains who have larger lungs, and more blood and noses than most
Indians living in hot, humid regions. This adjustment is essential for survival in high altitudes
where the air is thin.
Likewise, Chinese people of the Mongoloid race who have lived for centuries in cold
Alaska and thin air, in order to survive, their bodies will undergo changes to adapt to the
conditions of the surrounding environment, for example by turning their noses into a nose,
having larger lungs and having more blood and greater physical growth (height).
Estimates of the arrival of the ancestors of the Indians from mainland China to the
Americas continue to shift further and further into prehistory.Anthropologists (before the
1950s) argued that the ancestors of the Indians from China first set foot in the Americas
allegedly around 15,000 years ago.
However, based on some archaeological evidence, that estimate is still not correct. A
skull found in Los Angeles is thought to be 23,600 years old, and two skulls in San Diego are
even more surprising as they are thought to be 44,000 years old and 48,000 years old. If the
timing of the San Diego skulls is correct, it would have major implications for the history of
mankind in the Americas. This is because in the year 44,000 or
48,000 years ago there was no land bridge across the Bering Strait, as these people had
crossed via a land bridge possibly 80,000 years ago.Therefore some archaeologists and
anthropologists reject the correct timing of the skull discoveries in Los Angeles and San
Diego.
The early Asian settlers spread out in their new areas and left scattered campsites,
leaving behind archaeological evidence in the form of a collection of rough stone tools such
as axes and rakes. The oldest clearly delineated artifacts have been found at widely separated
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sites, for example in Peru and Canada. In a cave in Peru, a collection of rough stone tools was
found which, according to the dating 20,000 years ago. In Yukon, Canada, a 27,000-year-old
rake was found from Caribou bones. All the old artifacts in these two areas belong to the
palaeliticum culture.
Early humans with palaeliticum culture usually lived nomadically, relying on hunting
and gathering fruits, leaves, tubers, nuts and edible seeds. The tools used in addition to being
made of wood, bone and horn, are also made of unpolished stone or some sides that have been
polished but are still rough. Old artifacts found in Peru and Canada are weapons or rough
stone tools, indicating that people in these two places lived nomadically by hunting animals
that were easy to kill, and gathering by looking for nuts, seeds and tubers.
The first small group of Indian ancestors braved the treacherous glaciers, and made
their way to the Americas around 80,000 years ago. On the new continent they were in
paleolithic paradise, for there were no other human enemies or competitors, and the food
supply was abundant because the animals did not yet understand that humans were dangerous.
Under these circumstances they multiplied rapidly and spread rapidly across the Americas.
But it is likely that they rarely gathered in large enough numbers in one place to
support several primitive families, because they still lived nomadically, relying on hunting
and gathering for their livelihoods, which required high mobility, so they tended to explore
the vast wilderness areas available in the Americas.
Judging from the type of weapon, the ancient Indians could not have hunted large
animals using simple weapons, but at about 12,000 years ago a major change occurred.
Evidence of the change is the discovery of several Klovis javelin blades in the United States
and Mexico. The Klovis javelin was found in the form of a 12.5 cm long sharpened javelin.
The base is slightly convex with skillfully made grooves on both sides and can be clamped
with a split wooden shaft. Near the base, it is carefully sharpened so that it is blunt and does
not break the javelin eye's strap on the shaft.
The Klovis javelin is a very powerful weapon and is useful for hunting large species of
animals such as mammoths and large woolly elephants. The way to catch the game is that the
hunter may not attack from the front of the game which is very dangerous, but a clever tactic
is needed by approaching the animal slowly, then injuring it with a javelin throw on one of the
vital organs.
Hunters could also throw a single javelin point at the belly of a game animal, and then
follow the trail until the animal was nearly dead from blood loss or inflammation of the
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stomach lining, and when the game animal was helpless, the hunter skinned it.In addition to
mammoths or large ancient woolly elephants, other large animals targeted by hunters were
American bison and camels.The earliest Americans to know the agricultural system were the
Indians from Mexico.
In 1954, Richard S. MacNeish of the National Museum of Canada excavated two
caves and found layers and layers of human remains.After careful examination through
carbon 14 tests, it was discovered that the waste dated back to 7000 years B.C. He patiently
identified plant and animal remains to determine the diet of the cave dwellers. He argues that
between 7000-5000 BC, the inhabitants of Tamaulipas lived almost exclusively on wild
plants, which were dried and stored in baskets and mesh bags. They had settled down, and
planted pumpkin, and watermelon crops.
The human culture that lived in the Tamaulipas Cave left kitchen waste or referred to
as kyokkenmodding. The remains of the kitchen waste contained javelin blades made of stone
that had been rubbed at an early stage (still rough), so it was categorized as a mesolithicum
culture or what is known as middle stone culture.
In its development, around 2500-1000 BC, the Indians in Mexico have recognized the
agricultural system by planting crops such as pumpkin, watermelon, red beans, yellow beans
and corn. According to MacNeish, the first type of corn plant can be found in the kitchen
waste found in the Tehuakan Cave in the southeast of Mexico City. Around 2000 BC corn
plants have also been found in New Mexico, Arizona and the Isthmus of Panama in South
America.
Around 2000 B.C. in the Andes region of South America, the first crops raised by
early humans were tubers such as potatoes and sweet potatoes.Food crops cultivated by
ancient Indian farmers in Central and South America, play a very important role in feeding
the modern world.Maize is a staple food in most countries that are too cold and do not lack
sunlight for cultivation.This crop even rivals rice, which is native to many parts of the Far
East.
White potatoes developed by ancient Indians in the mountains of Peru have become a
staple food in cooler countries.Sweet potatoes and cassava grown in the tropical forests of
South America are important food crops in hot countries.Red beans from Mexico are a source
of protein for the poor everywhere except in the Far East.
Groundnuts (Peru) are not only an important crop for industry in many places, but are
also a staple in much of Africa.Many more contributions of Indians to world food include
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beans, tomatoes, chili peppers, various types of squash, watermelons, cocoa, pineapples and
so on.Their contributions were not limited to edible plants.Cotton and tobacco were already
cultivated in many parts of the ancient Americas when the first colonists arrived.
In the development from century to century long before Christoporus Columbus
named the immigrants from China as Indians, this nation eventually grew and developed into
new tribes such as: the Toltecs and Aztecs in Mexico, the Arawaks and Carib in the Caribbean
Islands, the Mayans in Central America, the Incas in Peru, the Chibchas in Colombia, the
Auracanians in Chile and the Patagonians in Argentina. Based on the results of archaeological
research, it can be seen that long before the arrival of Europeans, the Indians already had a
high quality civilization as inherited by the Mayans, Aztecs and Incas.
It is indeed so ironic that the ancestors of the early Indians, a group of Mongoloid
races originating from mainland China, went to discover the American continent through a
very terrible natural obstacle in the form of giant slabs of ice along the Bering-Alaska Strait
route. They grew and developed (multiplied) and spread to occupy all corners of the
American continent by building a high quality civilization as inherited by the Mayans, Aztecs
and Incas.
However, Western scholars do not give him the title that they were actually the first to
discover the American continent when compared to Christoporus Columbus who had never
set foot on the American continent, but he was honored as the discoverer of the American
continent. Even though he only set foot on Guanahanni on Walting Island, a group of the
Bahamas Islands on October 12, 1492. Nevertheless, the ancestors of the Indians are still
comforted because Jonathan Norton Leonard and other American anthropologists and
archaeologists still refer to them as the earliest Americans.
B. Mayan Civilization
The Maya civilization in Central America began to develop from 2000 BC to 1600
BC. The Maya civilization grew and developed in city-states like the Greek polis.
Archaeologists consider the temples of the Mayan civilization to be a marvel of ancient
architecture. Famous temples of Mayan cultural heritage such as: Temple of Inscriptions,
Temple of Warriors and Temple of Darkness.
The Mayans are a tribe that has expertise in astronomy and science. They already
know the planets and the circulation of the moon, so that this tribe can predict when lunar and
solar eclipses will occur. They also have a calendar system consisting of one year equal to 365
days, one year consists of 18 periods (months), each period consists of 20 days and the
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remaining five days at the end of each year are considered as harmful days. The calendar
system was used for approximately 2,000 years, from 580 BC until it was destroyed by
European settlers.
Even the Mayans have predicted that on December 21, 2012, there will be world
destruction due to damage to the solar system.36 In science, the Mayans have recognized the
symbol of the number zero and in arithmetic they have recognized the system of twenties.
The staple food of the Mayans is corn. In addition, the Mayans have cultivated food
crops such as: Lombok, beans, potatoes, cacao and a type of plant that can produce lemon
drink.The Mayans were fond of sports and parties.The most favored type of sport was a
basket ball game known as Pok Ta Pok.This type of game is played by two teams (teams) in a
field of 90 x 40 yards fenced with walls.The ball played in the Pok Ta Pok game is a massive
rubber ball.
In the field of religion, the Mayans have worshiped many gods, so that their belief
system is polytheistic.They worship more than 1000 gods.The most respected god or the
highest god according to the beliefs of the Mayans is the Chac God, which means the God of
Rain.The Mayan belief system in its religious system does not recognize human sacrifice
ceremonies for the gods it respects like the religious system adopted by the Aztecs in
Mexico.When viewed from the point of view of belief, the Mayans are known as Mayas,
which means Ának Anak Anak Serpent.
The Mayan civilization during its splendor was known as the Greek Nation of
America, because it was famous in the field of architecture, then the Mayan civilization
experienced a period of destruction when it was invaded by the Toltecs from Mexico under
the leadership of King Quetzalcoatl which means "Plumed Serpent". After successfully
occupying the Mayans, King Quetzalcoatl established the Mayapan Confederation, but after
the death of the king, the Mayapan Confederation went into retreat, finally until the 16th
century the Mayans and Toltecs combined in the Mayapan Confederation were successfully
colonized by Spain.
C. Aztec Civilization
The civilization of the Aztec people is often known as the Anahuac civilization which
means culture in the riverbank area. This civilization was developed by the Teotihuanacos
with a culture that has been inherited in the form of the Pyramide of the Sun in San Juan
Teotihuacan which is located about 35 miles from Mexico City.The Aztecs built the Pyramid
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of the Sun which is 64 meters high around 31 BC. In addition to the Pyramid of the Sun, the
Aztecs have also left behind High-quality cultural heritage The Aztecs were highly skilled in
architecture, gold, silver, ceramics and weaving.
The craft of stringing bird feathers is very advanced.Coats and woven products from
bird feathers are very artistic.Gold and silver are abundant, but they are not valuable to them,
while the most valuable thing is the horse.The Aztec people also have high morals.For
example, people who get drunk can be subject to the death penalty.
In addition, the Aztecs were proficient in astronomy and science. For example, they
have recognized the stone calendar system. This calendar has been used since 1479 until
1521. The calendar that is carved on the stone is now stored at the Museum of Anthropology
in Mexico City. The beliefs of the Aztec people are polytheism, namely they worship many
gods. The highest god of the Aztecs is the God of Huitzilopechtli as the God of War. This is
in line with the designation that the Aztecs as a tribe of experts in war. While other gods
worshiped by the Aztec people such as: Centeotl (Goddess of Agriculture), and Tlatec (God
of Rain). The Aztecs were the first people to cultivate tobacco into cigarettes, and they also
cultivated cacao to be made into chocolate foodstuffs. Meanwhile, the favorite drink of the
Aztecs was Pulque, a type of wine cooked with maguey (corn), and which is now the drink of
most Mexicans.
The beliefs of the Aztec people were polytheistic, that is, they worshiped many gods.
The highest god of the Aztec people is the god Huitzilopechtli as the god of war. This is in
line with the designation that the Aztec people are a tribe of war experts. While other gods
worshiped by the Aztec people such as Centeotl (god of agriculture) and Tlatec (God of rain).
The education system for Aztec children took place in temples with priests as teachers.
Subjects taught included: customs, manners, reading, writing, religion and military skills. The
driving factor for the Western world to look for alternative routes to the Eastern world to find
India for spices such as the expedition of Bartholomeus Dias, as well as the expedition of
Christoporus Columbus with the advounturir (adventure) spirit among them. This It gave
them the courage to explore the seas along the west coast of the African continent, such as the
expedition of Bartholomeus Dias, and the ferocity of the Atlantic Ocean, such as the
expedition of Christoporus Colombus. By the middle of the fifteenth century, Europeans had
invented gunpowder, the printing press and the compass. Gunpowder as an explosive material
could be utilized by the shipping expeditions (Bartholomeus Dias and Christoporus
Columbus) as a weapon (cannon) in protecting the crew from pirates while exploring the
ocean.
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Nations in Europe have known papermaking since the beginning of time and
supported by the invention of the printing press (Mid XV century) can provide good quality
paper for making maps or brochures related to shipping. This can support shipping activities
carried out by expeditions to explore the oceans such as those carried out by Bartholomeus
Dias and Christoporus Columbus.
The invention of a compass that can be used as a direction in a voyage, so that this tool
helps facilitate the exploration of the ocean to find new areas. Based on the results of
discoveries in the field of science and technology (science and technology), it can be utilized
by sailors / sailors (expeditors) to support the success of a voyage in an effort to discover new
areas, especially the discovery of India as the place of origin of spices that are needed by
Europeans.
D. Proof of the Teachings of Nicholas Copernicus:
Another motivating factor for Europeans to explore the oceans was the desire to prove
the truth of Nicolaus Copernicus' teaching that the earth is round. Nicolaus Copernicus, who
was born in Torun, Poland on February 19, 1473 and died in Frauenburg on May 24, 1543,
was a Polish astronomer who introduced the heliocentric theory. This theory changed the old
paradigm believed by the people of Medieval Europe who believed that geocentric, that is, the
sun revolves around the earth. In fact, Copernicus' teaching has opened a new page for the
history of science.
Copernicus' basic theory was that the daily rotation of the heavens was due to the
rotation of the earth on its own axis of rotation; and the annual changes in the heavens were
due to the rotation of the planets around the sun. Modern astronomy devotes Nicholas
Copernicus' name to a large crater on the surface of the moon. The breakup of trade relations
between the West and the East, the spirit of advounturir, the invention of gunpowder
technology, the printing press, the compass, the desire to prove the truth of Copernicus'
teachings, encouraged Europeans to explore the oceans in search of new regions.
E. Bartholomew Dias Expedition
Since the Eastern Roman Empire was successfully destroyed by Islamic forces (Turki
Usman) in 1453, trade relations between the Eastern world and the Western world were cut
off, because the Mediterranean Sea had been blockaded by Muslims. Since then, Western
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traders have tried hard to find alternative routes to the Eastern world by traveling along the
southern coast of Africa in search of India, which is thought to be the origin of spices.
This effort was made by the Portuguese King, Juan II, who ordered Bartholomeus
Dias to go to India, which he considered to be the origin of spices, along the southern coast of
Africa. Finally Bartholomeus Dias managed to find a land named Cabo des Tormentos (1486)
which means Cape of Storms. Cabo des Tormentos is known as Cape of Storms, because their
ships were often hit by storms on the voyage. When Bartholomew Dias's party reached the
southernmost tip of Africa, they saw or discovered a vast ocean that stretched to India. When
they returned to Portugal to report all the results of their expedition, King Juan II named the
land at the southernmost tip of Africa (Cabo des Tormentos) as the Cape of Good Hope,
because there was great hope of reaching India.
Ocean exploration efforts were continued by King Dom Manuel (successor to King
Juan II) who ordered Vasco da Gama to lead an expedition to continue the efforts made by
Bartholomeus Dias to reach mainland India. Vasco da Gama's expedition initially set sail
through Cape Hope, then headed for Zanzibar. In Zanzibar, Vasco da Gama's expedition
group met with traders from India, then through the mediation of Indian traders, they sailed to
Calicut (India) in 1498.Arriving in Calicut, Vasco da Gama and his entourage realized that the
origin of the spices was not from India, they thought it came from Malacca, it turned out that
the assumption was still wrong, the correct one was from Maluku.
F. The discovery of the Americas by Christoporus Columbus
The Spanish King Ferdinand had ordered a Genoese merchant named Christoporus
Columbus to lead an expedition across the oceans to find the land of India as a place of spices.
Christoporus Columbus with his advonturir spirit and his desire to prove the truth of Nicholas
Copernicus' teaching about the earth is round, and with three sailing ships namely Santa
Maria, Pinta, and Nina, he led an expedition to sail the oceans to find the land of India. Based
on the desire to prove that the earth is round, Christoporus Columbus sailed westward across
the Atlantic Ocean in search of Indian land which is said to exist in the Eastern hemisphere.
The expedition finally managed to land in Guanahani which is included in the Bahamas
Islands on October 12, 1492.
In the expedition group led by Christophorus Columbus, there was an Italian
(Genoese) named Amerigo Vespucci.During the time in The voyage, Amerigo Vespucci acted
as a recorder of everything he saw and experienced both during the journey and on the newly
discovered continent.His notes then reached the hands of a professor of earth science at the
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University of St.Die in West Germany named Martin Waldseemuller. He studied all of
Amerigo Vespucci's notes, but did not find the term America from the discovered continent,
so Professor Martin Waldseemuler named the continent America in memory of Amerigo
Vespucci. Since then until now the term America has been used to refer to the continent that
was discovered by the expedition group under the leadership of Christophorus Columbus.
The expedition of Christoporus Columbus first landed on Guanahanni (Walting
Island) on October 12, 1492.Walting Island is an island that comprises the Bahamas
archipelago. By Christoporus Columbus, the island was named Sansalvador which means
holy savior. Walting Island was captured from the "Indians" for the Spanish government.
From San Salvador he sailed on and landed on Cuba Island and Cuba became a colony of the
Spanish government. Christoporus Columbus, when he saw the Cuban people, mistook them
for Indians from Asia, so the Cubans and all the inhabitants of the classic Americas were
called Indians.
This is a historical error that is still used today. From Cuba, Christoporus Columbus
sailed to Haiti which was later named Hispanola. After Haiti, then Christoporus Columbus
arrived in Columbus in 1496 which then continued the journey to Trinidad by following the
coast of Venezuela and the Oremiche river in South America in 1500. In 1506 the Columbus
expedition arrived in Martinique and Porto Rico and explored Honduras, then they from
Honduras returned to Spain and arrived in Spain at the beginning of 1506. Not too long after
arriving in Spanmyol, he died on May 20, 1506.
After Christhoporus Columbus died, the exploration of the ocean to find new areas on
behalf of the Spanish government was continued by Christoporus Columbus' younger brother
Bartolome Columbus. The expedition under the leadership of Bartolome Columbus in 1496
managed to find the area of in the Americas which was named Santo Domingo. In 1508 an
expedition under the leadership of Ponce de Leon managed to find Puerto Rico and in 1513
the expedition also managed to find an area in the north (North America) which was named
Florida. This area later became one of the states of the United States.
SUMMARY:
The ancestors of the Indians came from Asia (Mongoloid Race) who came to the
Americas (34,000-30,000 BC) gradually through the Siberia - Bering Strait route to Alaska.
They spread throughout the Americas into new tribes such as: the Toltecs and Aztecs in
Mexico, the Arawaks and Caribs in the Caribbean Islands, the Mayans in Central America,
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the Incas in The ancestors of the Indians came from Asia (Mongoloid race) who came to the
Americas (34,000-30,000 BC) gradually through the Siberia - Bering Strait route to Alaska.
They spread throughout the Americas into new tribes such as: the Toltecs and Aztecs in
Mexico, the Arawaks and Caribs in the Caribbean Islands, the Mayans in Central America.
The Mayan civilization during its splendor was known as the Greek Nation of
America, because it was famous in the field of architecture, then the Mayan civilization
experienced a period of destruction when it was invaded by the Toltecs from Mexico under
the leadership of King Quetzalcoatl which means "Plumed Serpent". After successfully
occupying the Mayans, King Quetzalcoatl established the Mayapan Confederation, but after
the death of the king, the Mayapan Confederation went into retreat, finally until the 16th
century the Mayans and Toltecs combined in the Mayapan Confederation were successfully
colonized by Spain.
About
1. How did the Mongoloid race spread after arriving in the Americas?
2. Can you explain that the Mayan civilization was of high quality?
3. What do you know about the Aztec civilization?
