Columbus's Letter
What year did Columbus arrive in the Americas?
1492
What title did the king give Las Casas?
"The Protector of the Indian"
The Taino organized their society into...
Chiefdoms
Where did Columbus originally intend to sail?
Asia
Give an example of a primary source.
Answers may vary. Examples:
journal entry, letter, interview
Who did Columbus write to?
The King of Spain
What is a "friar"?
A religious person, a priest
What disease killed most of the surviving Taino?
Smallpox
Which country funded Columbus' journey?
Spain
Give an example of a secondary source.
Answers may vary. Examples:
textbook, article, documentary
Where did Columbus' first ship land? Name the modern-day country.
The Dominican Republic
What was Las Casas' purpose for writing this letter?
Answers may vary. Examples:
Las Casas wanted to end slavery in the Caribbean.
Las Casas wanted to tell the king about how horribly the indigenous people were being treated.
Many of the Taino were killed by diseases. Why didn't these diseases also kill the Europeans?
The Europeans were immune.
What name did Columbus give the island he landed on?
Hispaniola
Define "conflict." As in, "this source conflicts with..."
Does not agree with.
Why did Columbus write that the native people were willingly giving up their land?
Answers may vary. Examples:
Columbus wanted the king to believe that it was going to be easy to take over. He wanted to make himself look good, so he didn't want to admit to killing people.
One detail from de Las Casas' letter that conflicted with Columbus'.
Answers may vary. Examples:
Las Casas mention the enslavement of the native people.
Las Casas talked about how the native people were being killed.
Provide one way the Taino resisted Spanish colonization.
Answers include:
1) The Taino fought back against the Spanish.
2) The Taino ran away to remote parts of the island that the Europeans couldn't reach.
3) They disguised themselves within European society.
What is the largest Caribbean island?
(Hint: three different Taino languages were spoken here)
Cuba
Define "corroborate."
Agrees with, supports, confirms
One detail from Columbus' letter that was corroborated in Las Casas' letter.
Both sources agreed that the native people wanted to become Christian.
About how many years after Columbus' first voyage was this letter written?
Apx. 50 years
In 1519, this person led a successful revolt against the Spanish colonizers. What was his name?
Enriquillo
Which current U.S. state is closest to the Caribbean islands?
Florida
Define what a "colony" is.
An area controlled by another ruler or country.