First Voyage
In 1492, Christopher Columbus landed in the islands that are now called the
West Indies
Conquistadors - Disadvantages
Only a few hundred compared to millions of Native Americans
In 1521, Cortés and his Native American allies captured and demolished Tenochtitlán. What modern day city was built on it's grounds?
Mexico City
In the 1500s, Spain acquired enormous wealth from what area of the world?
Americas (New Spain)
What country had the most gold medals in the 2024 summer games?
TIE: China and US (40)
Claimed all the lands he visited for what nation?
Spain
Conquistador' advantages (3)
Guns and cannons were superior to arrows and spears
Better armor
Had horses - Natives had never seen horses
Francisco Pizzaro heard rumors about a rich empire in Peru that had more gold than the Aztecs. What empire was this?
Incan
With Spain’s colonization of much of the Americas, much of the world was now connected by what?
sea routes
Two candidates running for president in 2024
Kamala Harris & Donald Trump
When Columbus first arrived in the West Indies, he encountered the what people?
Taíno
Europeans unknowingly carried what with them? This killed many Natives
diseases, such as smallpox, measles, and influenza
Moctezuma thought Cortes may have been Quetzalcoatl. Who was Quetzalcoatl?
an Aztec god-king who had long ago promised to return from the East
This system of labor was granted by Spanish crown to conquistadors, to demand forced labor from Native Americans.
Encomienda system
When do we celebrate Independence Day?
July 4
How did the first people to meet Columbus react?
They were friendly and open toward
Hernan Cortes landed in present day Mexico and started out for Tenochtitlán, the capital of the what empire?
Aztec
Most valuable resources shipped from Spanish America to Spain? (3)
Silver and gold and sugar cane
Bartolomé de Las Casas, a Spanish priest, detailed horrors he saw in New Spain to people in Spain. How did they Spanish crown react?
outlawed forced slavery of natives (encomienda system)
What city is known as the "Gateway to the West" and has the world famous Arch?
St. Louis, MO
Spanish (conquerors) were called
conquistadors
Who was the Aztec emperor?
Moctezuma
To maintain strict control of their Empire in New Spain, the King of Spain appointed who to rule in the king's name?
viceroys
Top social class in New Spain - people born in Spain (filled highest roles)
Peninsulares
Name of the hurricane which made landfall in Florida in September of 2024?
helene