December 2013 and January 2014

TOTTON HISTORY GROUP 

 December 2013 and January 2014 

Meetings Report 

 We have had two very interesting meetings. The first was on 16th December 2013, when we heard from Jack and Joan about the Inca people, and their achievements. They were a very successful people, whose empire was centred in Peru mainly, but also stretched across the Andes Mountains down into Columbia, Chile, Bolivia, Ecuador and Argentina. They built roads, terraced the land for farming, and had a sophisticated system for irrigating the crops. Their inventions are amazing. They discovered how to freeze dried foods, build aqueducts and hanging bridges across ravines and rivers, which sound terrifying, and developed a sophisticated measuring system, among other things. They were also skilled in making gold artefacts. Machu Pichu was rediscovered in 1911 having been abandoned and left in the jungle for many centuries which has been a source of much of our knowledge of the Incas. Unfortunately, in the early 1500, European invaders unwittingly gave the Incas Smallpox which killed nearly 90% of the Inca people. The remainder were defeated by the Spanish Conquistador, Francisco Pizzaro in 1532. Today, the descendants of the Incas still live in Peru and carry on the Incan language and customs in food, music and religion in remote villages.
 We then had a very interesting account of the French influence on America by Myra, who told us that the American constitution was modelled on the French constitution when they were planning to become Independent of England. It is estimated that 4% of Americans are French speaking. We also heard that many of the cities of America have names that are French influenced names derived from Indian names – Chicago, Detroit, which was founded by Mr Cadillac., Arkansaw Illinois, etc.

 Monday 20 January 

 Yesterday we started by discussing a proposed trip to the American Museum near Bath. Myra has kindly agreed to see what arrangements we can make for travel there by train and taxi. We have provisionally fixed the date for our June meeting on 16 June.

 We then had an enlightening talk from Leslie regarding the connection Bristol has with the slave and sugar trade with the West Indies and America. Bristol was about 100 years ahead of Liverpool and London in trading with America in slaves and in 1670 William III made it a royal company. One Bristolian left £15 million. Many buildings, including the Theatre Royal was built using the proceeds of the 3-way trade between Africa, America and England. There was a huge ship-building business in Bristol – it is estimated that 2108 ships left Bristol. Glasgow was also built on the slave trade, and in 1833 £20 million was given to coloured people by the British Government.

 Leslie has also agreed to look into the feasibility of organising a trip to Bristol to see the building legacy in Bristol.. Our next meeting will be on February 17 at Holmwood when we will look at the life and times of George Washington