Welcome to Module 1

Historians dispute when the ancestors of Native Americans arrived in the Americas from Asia with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 20, 000 years ago. Although there is evidence that people from other places also came to American continents before Columbus, his "discovery" of the Americas was different and changed the world. After 1492, four very different cultures met and interacted. Columbus’s discovery sparked Spanish exploration and colonization a full century before British settlers arrived. Over the next century, however, they outpaced their rivals establishing nearly a dozen colonies. Finally, the need for labor in both Spanish and British colonies resulted in the transportation of Africans to the New World.

Module Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

CLO 1. Identify key individuals and events from the exploration of the Americas.
CLO 2. Evaluate and explain the role of these individuals and events in the development of the early colonies.
CLO 4. Examine social, cultural, and political trends of this period.
CLO 6. Analyze primary sources and express these viewpoints in class discussions.

To Do

Please read/watch all of the module learning materials (readings, presentations, videos, etc.) and complete all assignments/assessments listed below. If you have questions, please contact the course instructor or ask in the Questions About This Course forum.

Readings:

Review the Presentations:

Watch the Videos:

Assignments/Assessments

Complete the following assignments by the date and time indicated on each assignment page.

Complete Start Here Module and review Course Resources Module.
Mod. 1 Discussion: The Impact of 1492
Mod. 1 Assignment: Analysis of Merrell
- Prompt for Merrell.docx

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