Early Exploration
Why did European rulers want a sea route to Asia?
They wanted a faster, more efficient way to trade valuable goods with Asia.
Who sailed west across the Atlantic Ocean to reach Asia?
Christopher Columbus.
What is a journey taken for a specific purpose called?
An expedition.
What was the movement of people, animals, plants, and cultures between the Eastern and Western Hemispheres called?
The Columbian Exchange
What happened to many American Indians after Europeans arrived in the Americas?
Many died from diseases brought by Europeans.
What instrument helped sailors determine their location by measuring the position of the stars?
An astrolabe.
Which Spanish explorer led an expedition to conquer the Aztec Empire?
Hernán Cortés
What is a person who conquers and claims land for Spain called?
A conquistador
Name one type of item that Europeans introduced to the Americas
horses, plants, animals, or other goods exchanged between the continents. Students should identify an item supported by their class materials
Why did Europeans bring enslaved Africans to the Americas?
They brought enslaved Africans to work on farms and in mines, replacing American Indian laborers.
What were two valuable goods European merchants wanted from Asia?
Silk and spices.
Who was the first explorer whose crew completed a voyage around the world?
Ferdinand Magellan's crew completed the first circumnavigation of the world. Magellan himself died before the voyage was completed
What is a widespread outbreak of disease called?
An epidemic
What animal introduced by Europeans did American Indian groups begin to use?
Horses
What religion did Spanish explorers want to spread to the American Indians?
Christianity
How did improvements in navigation technology help explorers?
Navigation tools helped sailors determine their locations, travel more accurately, and improve sea travel.
Who were the Spanish monarchs who agreed to pay for Columbus's voyage?
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain
What is a settlement controlled by another country called?
A colony.
How did the Columbian Exchange affect both Europe and the Americas?
New plants, animals, and cultural practices influenced how people lived in both regions
What crop had to be grown on plantations in the Americas, and who was forced to work on them?
Sugar cane was grown on plantations, where enslaved Native Americans and Africans were forced to work
Why was traveling by sea often better than traveling over land when searching for Asian trade routes?
Sea travel could be faster than traveling over rough, dangerous land routes, even when the sea route was longer.
Name two Spanish explorers who explored parts of North America in search of riches.
Explain the difference between an expedition and an empire.
Expedition: A journey undertaken for a particular purpose.
Empire: A group of territories or peoples controlled by one ruler or government.
How did the Columbian Exchange change diets and ways of life in Europe and the Americas?
New foods, plants, and animals changed diets and everyday life. Europeans, Africans, and American Indians also exchanged cultural practices as populations came into contact.
Why did conflict occur between Europeans and American Indians during the Age of Exploration?
Europeans took land, forced American Indians to work, and pressured them to practice Christianity. Many American Indians resisted these changes.