Unit 1 Introduction

The course gets a fast start, covering several hundred years in the first unit. We start in the late 15th century and will look at how Europe, the Americas, and Africa changed in the 16th century following the voyages of Columbus.  His and follow on voyages brought these three places into regular contact, forming the Early-Modern Atlantic World.  As Europeans explored and settled in the Americas, they eventually turned to African slavery as a growing source of labor.

We'll next look at developments in the 17th century and, in particular, at the English colonies founded in what would one day become the United States. In addition to the textbook, we will have two very different angles on what it was like to live in the early American colonies.  We will compare and contrast the New England and Virginia Colonies.  The documentary we're watching focuses on Virginia and tells the story of enslaved people.

The purpose of this module is to become familiar with the Early-Modern Atlantic World and the early North American colonies, with a focus on the colonies of England. 

-Course Materials

In order to post a strong discussion and earn a high quiz score, please read the following textbook chapters.  Once you've completed the readings, watch this week's documentary.

Read:

• 1 Early Globalization The Atlantic World.pdf Download 1 Early Globalization The Atlantic World.pdf
• 2 Creating New Social Orders Colonial Society.pdf Download 2 Creating New Social Orders Colonial Society.pdf
  
  

Watch:

"The Downward Spiral," from the documentary series Slavery and the Making of America

-Assessments

After you've completed the readings and watched the documentary,  post a discussion and take the Unit 1 quiz. 

Post:

Choose ONE of the following discussion prompts to respond to.  The discussion is worth  7 points.  Your discussion must be posted by 11:59 pm on 9/5.. 

Extra Credit:  You have two opportunities to receive extra credit on your discussion post.

• If you post your discussion by 11:59pm on 8/29, you will receive a half-point (.5) point bonus.
• If you offer a substantial response to a fellow classmate's post by 11:59pm on 9/5, you will receive a half-point (.5) point bonus.

Discussion Post Options:

1. Discussion Prompt 1a
2. Discussion Prompt 1b

Quiz:

The Unit 1 Quiz is 20 questions and worth 20 points.  Complete the Unit 1 quiz by 11:59pm on 9/5..  Click here to access the Unit 1 Quiz.