Period 1: 1491–1607

The first period sets the foundation for students to understand what is happening in the Americas right before the arrival of Christopher Columbus and the effects of his transatlantic voyage, starting in 1491 and ending with the establishment of Jamestown in 1607. Students cover differing Native American societies before moving on to the Columbian exchange. It is important to note that much of this unit covers colonization of the New World by the Spanish rather than the English. Following a look at Spanish conquest and the Castas system, the period concludes with examining the interactions between Europeans, Indigenous populations, and Africans, setting the stage for future colonization. The historical thinking focus for Period 1 is causation, namely explaining the effects of the development of transatlantic voyages throughout this period.