Question

Why do we divide the history of Americas into eras either before or after Columbus?

Answer 1

For thousands of years before Columbus set sail for the New World in 1492, people lived in the Americas. By crossing a land bridge (exposed because of low sea levels) that connected Siberia with Alaska at the end of the last Ice Age approximately 12,000 years ago, people from Asia followed an ice-free corridor into present day Canada. Termed Native Americans by historians because they were the original inhabitants of North and South America, these early people left evidence both of their existence and customs. Historians and other scholars in related disciplines such as archaeology and anthropology face many challenges when attempting to piece together the mysteries of prehistoric Native American life. Because the first inhabitants of the Americas kept no written records, professionals analyzing this time period must search for clues in order to better understand the lifestyles of the earliest Americans.

Answer 2

It's because before Christopher Columbus there was only Native American's activity. Nothing really special.

After Christopher Columbus, Europeans started going to the east. Before you know it, the 13 colonies exited. After America got its independence from Great Britain, the Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution were made.
US started spreading all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

Then Industrialization came along causing mass-production. It was a big deal.
During the time of Industrialization, the Civil War broke up between the North, unions, and the South, Confederates. The Civil War occur because of Slavery. The North doesn't want Slavery, but the South does, badly.
The north won the Civil War, and the South had to give up their slaves. Slavery was abolish.

Though the South still hated African-American. So segregation started. In the south, there was black bathroom, and white bathroom. There was black sink, and white sink. The south called African-American as inferior.
Also during that time, there was woman fighting for their rights.
These were called Civil Rights Movement. Women are still fighting for their rights even to this day. Though women right's has gotten better.
Back to segregation. In to 1960-70s, I believe, Martin Luther King Jr. used non-violence to end segregation. This was a great turning point in history. Now all ethnicity can have equality. (Not really)

You probably heard of World War 2. Why was World War 2 a major deal to America's history? Well it's because ever since Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor (Tragic day), America's started making atomic bombs. It was a project known as the Manhattan Project. Japan has suffered 2 atomic bombs which killed many lives, and caused cancer.

After World War 2, Russia become communism. Russia, and some other countries formed together to form the Soviet Union. Soviet Union wanted Asia, and the rest of the world to become communism. So that Soviet Union would have SUPREME power. It's like world domination. This is called the Domino Theory. America didn't want Asia to become communism. This lead to the Cold War. You remembered that America was building the atomic bombs, correct? Well, Soviet Union were also building atomic bombs. Since Soviet Union and America has many badazz bombs that can destroy the whole world, America and Soviet Union became the 2 super power. If any side dropped a bomb on their territory, it will cause a Nuclear war which can lead to the end of the world! (Literary)

Soviet Union still wanted to spread Communism. So they started with Korea. North Korea became communism, while South Korea became anti-communism. (South Korea is on America's side) When conflict started, The Korean War started. After many few years, South Korea, with the help of America won the war, technically. The war is still technically going on because North Korea didn't start the treaty. This is why there is still many U.S. soldiers near the DMZ. Though nothing really changed after the Korean War. This is why some people refer the Korean War as the "Forgotten War" So many soldiers died during that war. We cannot pretend the this was a forgotten war when many soldier died... Anyway, back to history.

2 years later, another war occurred. It was called the Vietnam War. Ho Chi Minh, wanted Vietnam to become communism. So the same thing happen. North became communism, and South became anti-communism, with the help of America. Of course, Soviet Union wanted to spread communism, so they helped North. This was the worst war in America's history, in my opinion. Why? Because America lost that war! The war lasted for almost 2 decade. This caused many deaths and injuries in both side. I can explain a lot more about this war, but I'll just make it quick. So, the North defeated and conquered South. Therefore, South Vietnam became Communism. Today, Vietnam is still a communism place.

The Soviet Union disbanded in the early 1990s. So now we don't have to worry about communism spreading, or a nuclear war breaking out any sec.

In 2001, the Al-Qaeda hijack planes. It hit the World Trade Centers Towers, and the Pentagon. What did the U.S. gov. responded with? They declared war on Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. (Supported the Al-Qaeda).
War known as War on Terror.
-Written by GoldPhenoix

Answer 3

I skimmed through it. Russia was already a communist country prior to the 2nd world war

Answer 4

Ah, thanks for the info.

Answer 5

Nincompoop, I thought you only read love letters. :P
Anyway, thanks for fixing some errors in my summary.

Answer 6

Columbus heralded the coming of the Europeans and the annihilation of most of the Native Americans' way of life. His arrival was like turning a new page on the history of both North and South America.

Prior to him, you had everything from a wide swath of simple, nomadic tribes in North America which the early settlers from the Mayflower were familiar with to massive nation-states such as the Aztec Empire that dominated the region of modern-day Mexico and the Inca Empire in South America ruling over the Andes.

After Columbus' discovery, Europeans sailed west to the New World bringing with them guns, horses, steel, and diseases that none of the Native Americans were immune to.

Spain was particularly brutal in its conquests as it sought to slake its thirst for gold and land. Both the Aztec and Incan empires were demolished with only a handful of Spanish soldiers each (aided by Native American allies). The cloth armor that the natives wore didn't do much to stop steel swords, bayonets, and lead bullets.

And thanks to the introduction of smallpox which the Europeans had immunity to, around 80 - 90% of the Native American population was wiped out on both continents over the course of a few centuries following Columbus' initial landing. It was as if the Americas were hit with their own version of the Black Death, multiplied by several factors and stretching out across many more years. Of course, the Europeans had no idea that they were the cause. Most would chalk it up to the thinking at the time as an "act of God" striking down the heathens.

Christopher Columbus' discovery was awesome for the Europeans. But if you were a Native American, you and the world you knew were living on borrowed time as soon as he came home to tell everyone about his discovery.

Answer 7

thanks for reiterating what I said :P