Video Summaries

By: Amanda Sylvia

“The Journey of Man”-The first human population was in Africa, believed to have appeared 50,000 years ago.- The Y chromosome is passed down from male to male, and is used in tracing the history of early humans.-Presently, members of the San society have descendants from the first human population in Africa.

“Guns, Germs, and Steel”-The environment was one of the many factors that influenced human behaviors and developments.

-Agriculture developed at an intense rate, especially in Eurasia, due to their overabundant supply of plants and animals, including goats, sheep, and cows.

-Native Americans had trouble planting corn.

“Little Ice Age”-16th-19th centuries

-Scientists assume that this Ice Age was a result of low solar activity and high volcanic activity, to name a few.

-There were harsh winters all over the world, especially in Europe and North America.

-Half of the population of Iceland died as a result of the winter and lack of cereal crops.

“Genghis Khan”-Founder, ruler, and emperor of the Mongol Empire, which was the largest Empire in the world.

-He earned power by uniting the confederations of the Central Asian plateau.

-He conquered the Jin Dynasty by massacring their army.

“The Columbian Exchange”-Between the Eastern and Western hemispheres

-They exchanged plants, animals, ideas, diseases, and slaves.

-It took place during Christopher Columbus’s trip to America in the late 15th century.

“The Columbian Exchange” Cont.- The Europeans exchanged horses with the Native Americans, which became extremely useful for them in hunting food.

-The New World society traded their tomato sauce to Italy.

-Many of the staple foods in different countries would not have been possible if it weren’t for the Columbian Exchange.

“The Columbian Exchange” cont.-Even though the Columbian Exchange made a huge positive impact on the world, it had its disadvantages.

-In addition to food and plants, diseases were also being exchanged among countries.

-Diseases were especially evident among Native Americans, who had no immunity towards new diseases, especially smallpox.