Spanish Explorers
The goal of these Spanish explorers was to conquer and claim land and resources for Spain and enslave the natives in the Americas
What is a conquistador?
This Italian explorer sailed under the Spanish flag and "discovered" the Americas in 1492.
Who is Christopher Columbus?
A trip or voyage, often sponsored by the king and/or queen of a country
What is an expedition?
The Maya used this cash crop as a form of currency (money).
What is cocoa beans?
The Ottoman Turks captured this city in 1453 making travel to Asia very difficult, forcing Europeans to find new routes to Asia
Who is Constantinople?
This explorer's army of Spaniards and Native Americans destroyed the Aztec Empire and claimed Mexico for Spain
Who is Hernan Cortes?
These are the four main countries that claimed land in the Americas during the age of exploration.
What are England, France, Spain, and Portugal?
The exchange of goods and ideas between the old and new worlds that brought items like cocoa, potatoes, and tomatoes, to Europe, and brought goods like livestock and sugar, and unfortunately disease, to the New World was called this...
What was the Columbian Exchange?
What is terrace farming?
He crossed the isthmus of Panama in 1513 and was the first European explorer to see the Pacific Ocean
Who is Vasco Nunez de Balboa?
He invaded and destroyed the Inca Empire and then later founded Lima, Peru in 1535
Who is Francisco Pizarro?
Explored the Mississippi River Valley and claimed the land for France. He named the area Louisiana for King Louis XIV
Who is Robert LaSalle?
These new ships made it possible for European sailors to explore more of the ocean than ever before.
What are caravels?
Most gods in the Inca, Maya, and Aztec cultures were related to this important part of their cultures and economies.
What is agriculture?
As interest in the New World grew, countries sent many explorers to claim land for their countries and set up settlements. A settlement ruled by a far away country is called this.
What is a colony?
This Spanish explorer searched the Southwest trying to find the seven cities of gold (Cibola), but instead found the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River, and the Texas panhandle.
Who is Francisco Coronado?
Explored the river that now bears his name in present-day New York and claimed the land around it for the Dutch. He also explored for the English and has a bay in Canada that bears his name.
Who is Henry Hudson?
Needing a new route to Asia, countries like England, France, and the Netherlands sent expeditions to the New World looking for this route to Asia that would allow them to sail through North America to the east
What is the Northwest Passage?
These floating farms were built by the Aztecs because they didn't have access to large pieces of land for farming.
What are chinampas?
This land route to Asia was often dangerous, but the silks, spices, and other Asian goods made the journey worth the risk for many European entrepreneurs
What is the silk road or silk highway?
He was part of Christopher Columbus' second voyage, explored and named Florida while he was looking for gold and the legendary Fountain of Youth
Who is Juan Ponce de Leon?
This Chinese explorer sailed the Indian Ocean in the early 1400's looking for trade partners and spreading the word about China's power.
Who is Zheng He?
In the 1400s, these new pieces of technology allowed navigators to sail and explore further than ever before. Name three inventions
What are the astrolabe, compass, gun powder, and caravel?
While Portugal focused on trade with Asia, Spain's goals changed as they explored the New World. Spain's goals became these three things
What are gold, land, and the spread of Christianity?
This merchant's book in 1295 about his years in Asia sparked interest in Asia and eventually helped increase the market for Asian goods
Who is Marco Polo?