Ancient American Civilizations
This civilization was known for its complex cities, pyramids, and advanced knowledge of math and astronomy.
Who are the Maya?
European explorers sought this to spread their religion.
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What is God?
He reached the Caribbean in 1492, opening the Americas to European exploration.
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Who is Christopher Columbus?
The Columbian Exchange was the transfer of goods, people, and ideas between these two worlds.
What are the Old World and the New World?
This system forced Native Americans to work for Spanish colonists in exchange for supposed protection.
What is the encomienda system?
This civilization created the city of Tenochtitlán, which was built on an island and known for its floating gardens.
Who are the Aztec?
The search for this valuable metal drove many Europeans to explore.
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What is gold?
This explorer conquered the Aztec Empire, claiming Mexico for Spain.
Who is Hernán Cortés?
This New World crop became essential in European diets and supported population growth.
What are potatoes?
Colonies were expected to provide raw materials to their mother country under this economic policy.
What is mercantilism?
Located in the Andes, this civilization built a vast road system and used quipus for record-keeping.
Who are the Inca?
European countries wanted to gain power and land, often summarized by this phrase.
What is glory?
This Portuguese explorer was the first to reach India by sea.
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Who is Vasco da Gama?
These animals, brought by Europeans, transformed the way Native Americans on the Great Plains lived.
What are horses?
This brutal journey brought enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to work in the Americas.
What is the Middle Passage?
The Inca practiced this type of farming on mountain slopes to maximize agricultural land.
What is terrace farming?
These navigation tools helped explorers travel farther and more accurately across oceans.
What are the compass and astrolabe?
He conquered the Inca Empire, adding Peru to Spanish control.
Who is Francisco Pizarro?
This deadly disease from Europe caused a drastic population decline among Native Americans
What is smallpox?
These European countries conquered large empires in the Americas, like the Aztec and Inca.
Who are Spain and Portugal?
Name the three major indigenous civilizations studied in early American history.
Who are the Maya, Aztec, and Inca?
This type of ship allowed explorers to sail farther and better maneuver in difficult waters.
What is a caravel?
He explored northeastern North America and helped establish Dutch claims in the region.
Who is Henry Hudson?
This crop, brought from the Americas, became a major economic product in Europe and led to a demand for labor.
What is tobacco?
This economic network connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas in a cycle of trade involving slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods.
What is the Triangular Trade?