People's History- Zinn
“Las Casas tells how the Spaniards ‘grew more conceited every day’ and after a while refused to walk any distance.”
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States, Harper Perennial, 1995.
In context, “conceited” most nearly means:
A. Generous
B. Confused
C. Fearful
D. Arrogant
“Las Casas tells how the Spaniards ‘grew more conceited every day’ and after a while refused to walk any distance.”
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States, Harper Perennial, 1995.
17. In context, “conceited” most nearly means:
A. Generous
B. Confused
C. Fearful
D. Arrogant
Which disease led to the death of 90% of indigenous people in the Americas?
COVID-19
Measles
Malaria
Smallpox
Which disease led to the death of 90% of indigenous people in the Americas?
COVID-19
Measles
Malaria
Smallpox
“Our friends accompanied us, armed with swords and shields, and such was the slaughter done that day on water and on land, that with prisoners taken they numbered in all more than forty thousand men”
-Cortés, Hernando. “Third Letter of Cortés.” In The Conquistadors: First-Person Accounts… ed. Patricia de Fuentes, 1963.
18. Who were the “friends” assisting Cortés?
A. Indigenous enemies of the Aztecs
B. Taíno rebels
C. Spanish settlers
D. Portuguese sailors
“Our friends accompanied us, armed with swords and shields, and such was the slaughter done that day on water and on land, that with prisoners taken they numbered in all more than forty thousand men”
Cortés, Hernando. “Third Letter of Cortés.” In The Conquistadors: First-Person Accounts… ed. Patricia de Fuentes, 1963.
18. Who were the “friends” assisting Cortés?
A. Indigenous enemies of the Aztecs
B. Taíno rebels
C. Spanish settlers
D. Portuguese sailors
If you were to postulate (make an educated guess), what would be a taboo for Taino people?
Respect all living things
Kill animals without cause
Not finish a meal
Ensure that all children are being fed well
If you were to postulate (make an educated guess), what would be a taboo for Taino people?
Respect all living things
Kill animals without cause
Not finish a meal
Ensure that all children are being fed well
The Battle of Mactan ended with:
A. A Spanish victory
B. Magellan’s defeat and death
C. A peace treaty
D. Portuguese control of the islands
The Battle of Mactan ended with:
A. A Spanish victory
B. Magellan’s defeat and death
C. A peace treaty
D. Portuguese control of the islands
Today, the island Columbus called Hispaniola is home to:
A. Cuba
B. Mexico
C. Puerto Rico and Jamaica
D. Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Today, the island Columbus called Hispaniola is home to:
A. Cuba
B. Mexico
C. Puerto Rico and Jamaica
D. Haiti and the Dominican Republic
Prior to 1492, why did Europeans invest in new sailing technologies?
A. They wanted to copy Ottoman ship designs
B. Land routes to Asia were controlled and expensive
C. They needed faster routes to the Americas
D. The Ottomans encouraged Europeans to explore oceans
Prior to 1492, why did Europeans invest in new sailing technologies?
A. They wanted to copy Ottoman ship designs
B. Land routes to Asia were controlled and expensive
C. They needed faster routes to the Americas
D. The Ottomans encouraged Europeans to explore oceans
Columbus assumes the Taíno “ought to make good slaves” This is an example of:
A. A fact
B. A perspective
C. A narrative
D. An Indigenous viewpoint
Columbus assumes the Taíno “ought to make good slaves” This is an example of:
A. A fact
B. A perspective
C. A narrative
D. An Indigenous viewpoint
Today, many Cubans and other Arawak descendants attempt to preserve their cultural heritage by passing down traditions. Which aspect of their identity are they preserving?
Food
Gender
Class
Ethnicity
Today, many Cubans and other Arawak descendants attempt to preserve their cultural heritage by passing down traditions. Which aspect of their identity are they preserving?
Food
Gender
Class
Ethnicity
Spanish and Portuguese representatives re-negotiated and the new treaty was called the Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494. It re-drew the division at 270 leagues west of the Cape Verde islands. This would have implications for colonial and commercial competition through the period to 1750.
- Beezley, William. “European Colonies in the Americas.” OER, OER Project, 26 Feb. 2025.
What were the implications of the Treaty of Tordesillas?
A. It divided newly explored lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal, shaping their colonial empires and limiting other European powers’ access.
B. It created an alliance between Spain and Portugal that ended all future conflicts over colonial expansion.
C. It granted exclusive trading rights in the Atlantic to England and France, reducing Spanish and Portuguese influence.
D. It abolished all papal involvement in overseas exploration and allowed any nation to claim land freely.
A. It divided newly explored lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal, shaping their colonial empires and limiting other European powers’ access.
B. It created an alliance between Spain and Portugal that ended all future conflicts over colonial expansion.
C. It granted exclusive trading rights in the Atlantic to England and France, reducing Spanish and Portuguese influence.
D. It abolished all papal involvement in overseas exploration and allowed any nation to claim land freely.
“They promised Columbus 10 percent of the profits… fame… governorship…”
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States, Harper Perennial, 1995.
These promises demonstrate which motivation to explore for the Spanish?
A. Religious conversion
B. Gold for the crown
C. Trade routes
D. Personal prosperity
“They promised Columbus 10 percent of the profits… fame… governorship…”
Zinn, Howard. A People’s History of the United States, Harper Perennial, 1995.
These promises demonstrate which motivation to explore for the Spanish?
A. Religious conversion
B. Gold for the crown
C. Trade routes
D. Personal prosperity
The text explains that Europeans “set out to trade by sea.” What long-term effect did this have?
A. Decline of European influence in Asia
B. Increased isolation of Europe
C. Elimination of Ottoman power
D. The beginning of global maritime empires
The text explains that Europeans “set out to trade by sea.” What long-term effect did this have?
A. Decline of European influence in Asia
B. Increased isolation of Europe
C. Elimination of Ottoman power
D. The beginning of global maritime empires
Why is knowing the intended audience of Columbus’s report (Spain’s royal court) important for understanding his descriptions?
Because he needed to impress the monarchs to compete with other explorers for support.
Because he wanted to convince the monarchs that the lands were rich and worth further investment.
Because he hoped other European rulers would join future expeditions.
Because he intended to give a strictly factual report for scholarly use.
Why is knowing the intended audience of Columbus’s report (Spain’s royal court) important for understanding his descriptions?
Because he needed to impress the monarchs to compete with other explorers for support.
Because he wanted to convince the monarchs that the lands were rich and worth further investment.
Because he hoped other European rulers would join future expeditions.
Because he intended to give a strictly factual report for scholarly use.
Flowers and Songs of Sorrow
Nothing but flowers and songs of sorrow
Are left in Mexico and Tlatelolco, Where once we saw warriors and wisemen.
We know it is true
That we must perish,
For we are mortal men.
You, the Giver of Life, You have ordained it.
Who is the intended audience of the “Flower and Songs of Sorrow”?
A. The Spanish
B. The Portuguese
C. No one
D. God
Flowers and Songs of Sorrow
Nothing but flowers and songs of sorrow
Are left in Mexico and Tlatelolco, Where once we saw warriors and wisemen.
We know it is true
That we must perish,
For we are mortal men.
You, the Giver of Life, You have ordained it.
Who is the intended audience of the “Flower and Songs of Sorrow”?
A. The Spanish
B. The Portuguese
C. No one
D. God
The label “Spanish” included Spaniards—individuals born in Spain who had Christian parents. But it also included criollos or colonials—individuals born in the Americas.
-Beezley, William. “European Colonies in the Americas.” OER, OER Project, 26 Feb. 2025.
What race are criollos (creoles)?
A. Asian
B. Native/Indigenous
C. White
D. A combination of B and C
The label “Spanish” included Spaniards—individuals born in Spain who had Christian parents. But it also included criollos or colonials—individuals born in the Americas.
-Beezley, William. “European Colonies in the Americas.” OER, OER Project, 26 Feb. 2025.
What race are criollos (creoles)?
A. Asian
B. Native/Indigenous
C. White
D. A combination of B and C
Why might Columbus exaggerate the riches of the islands?
A. He wanted more royal funding
B. He feared Europeans would stop exploring
C. He wanted scientific recognition
D. He hoped to remain anonymous
Why might Columbus exaggerate the riches of the islands?
A. He wanted more royal funding
B. He feared Europeans would stop exploring
C. He wanted scientific recognition
D. He hoped to remain anonymous
“When… Cortés first invaded… the indigenous population was probably between 25 and 30 million… Fifty years later, it was three million. Almost all of this depopulation was caused by disease.”
— Getz, Trevor. Unit 4-Introduction: Transoceanic Connections (1450–1750).
The dramatic population drop described in the passage demonstrates which broader historical pattern?
A. European populations declined more than American ones
B. Diseases spread faster over oceans than over land
C. Indigenous people had no immunity to Eurasian diseases
D. Europeans purposely engineered biological weapons
“When… Cortés first invaded… the indigenous population was probably between 25 and 30 million… Fifty years later, it was three million. Almost all of this depopulation was caused by disease.”
— Getz, Trevor. Unit 4-Introduction: Transoceanic Connections (1450–1750).
The dramatic population drop described in the passage demonstrates which broader historical pattern?
A. European populations declined more than American ones
B. Diseases spread faster over oceans than over land
C. Indigenous people had no immunity to Eurasian diseases
D. Europeans purposely engineered biological weapons
“Our friends accompanied us, armed with swords and shields, and such was the slaughter done that day on water and on land, that with prisoners taken they numbered in all more than forty thousand men”
What does Cortés emphasize in reporting the huge numbers to the king?
A. The ease of victory
B. Spanish military weakness
C. The difficulty and scale of the conflict
D. The peaceful nature of conquest
“Our friends accompanied us, armed with swords and shields, and such was the slaughter done that day on water and on land, that with prisoners taken they numbered in all more than forty thousand men”
What does Cortés emphasize in reporting the huge numbers to the king?
A. The ease of victory
B. Spanish military weakness
C. The difficulty and scale of the conflict
D. The peaceful nature of conquest
“Plots of boniato, yucca and maize… Taíno-style.”
-Baker, Christopher P. “Cuba’s Taíno People: A Flourishing Culture, Believed Extinct.” BBC News, 25 Feb. 2022.
11. Which of the following is native to the New World?
A. Bananas
B. Sugar
C. Vanilla
D. Coffee
“Plots of boniato, yucca and maize… Taíno-style.”
-Baker, Christopher P. “Cuba’s Taíno People: A Flourishing Culture, Believed Extinct.” BBC News, 25 Feb. 2022.
11. Which of the following is native to the New World?
A. Bananas
B. Sugar
C. Vanilla
D. Coffee
A 1573 law outlined the founding of new towns, and it decreed that married Spaniards must either bring their wives to the colonies or return to Spain
- Beezley, William. “European Colonies in the Americas.” OER, OER Project, 26 Feb. 2025.
The Spaniards referenced above are part of which caste?
A. Peninsular
B. Mestizo
C. Mulatto
D. Creole
A 1573 law outlined the founding of new towns, and it decreed that married Spaniards must either bring their wives to the colonies or return to Spain
- Beezley, William. “European Colonies in the Americas.” OER, OER Project, 26 Feb. 2025.
The Spaniards referenced above are part of which caste?
A. Peninsular
B. Mestizo
C. Mulatto
D. Creole
In return for bringing back gold and spices, they promised Columbus 10 percent of the profits, governorship over new-found lands, and the fame that would go with a new title: Admiral of the Ocean Sea. Excerpted from Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present. Harper Perennial, 1995.
Which Spanish goal is best represented by the excerpt above?
God
Gold
Glory
Guns
In return for bringing back gold and spices, they promised Columbus 10 percent of the profits, governorship over new-found lands, and the fame that would go with a new title: Admiral of the Ocean Sea. Excerpted from Zinn, Howard. A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present. Harper Perennial, 1995.
Which Spanish goal is best represented by the excerpt above?
God
Gold
Glory
Guns
Which of the following most accurately captures a paradox inherent in the emergence of the global system of exchange described in the article “Unit 4 Introduction: Transoceanic Connections 1450 to 1750”?
A. The maritime empires facilitated the spread of new food crops worldwide, yet they strictly limited technological innovation to Europe to maintain dominance.
B. The transoceanic voyages allowed Europeans to bypass Ottoman-controlled overland trade routes, yet these voyages themselves relied heavily on prior Afro-Eurasian navigational technologies.
C. The Columbian Exchange improved diets globally by introducing new crops and animals, yet it had no significant negative ecological or demographic consequences.
D. The surge in global silver trade enriched only the Americas, while leaving Europe and Asia economically stagnant.
Which of the following most accurately captures a paradox inherent in the emergence of the global system of exchange described in the article “Unit 4 Introduction: Transoceanic Connections 1450 to 1750”?
A. The maritime empires facilitated the spread of new food crops worldwide, yet they strictly limited technological innovation to Europe to maintain dominance.
B. The transoceanic voyages allowed Europeans to bypass Ottoman-controlled overland trade routes, yet these voyages themselves relied heavily on prior Afro-Eurasian navigational technologies.
C. The Columbian Exchange improved diets globally by introducing new crops and animals, yet it had no significant negative ecological or demographic consequences.
D. The surge in global silver trade enriched only the Americas, while leaving Europe and Asia economically stagnant.
“In fact they took and gave everything they had with good will, but it seemed to me that they were a people who were very poor in everything.”
Bartolomé de Las Casas (trans. B.W. Ife), Christopher Columbus: Journal of the First Voyage, 1990.
Why is relying only on conquistador journals problematic?
A. They tell the truth
B. They include too many Indigenous voices
C. They are written in difficult handwriting
D. They show only one viewpoint
“In fact they took and gave everything they had with good will, but it seemed to me that they were a people who were very poor in everything.”
Bartolomé de Las Casas (trans. B.W. Ife), Christopher Columbus: Journal of the First Voyage, 1990.
Why is relying only on conquistador journals problematic?
A. They tell the truth
B. They include too many Indigenous voices
C. They are written in difficult handwriting
“In fact they took and gave everything they had with good will, but it seemed to me that they were a people who were very poor in everything.”
Bartolomé de Las Casas (trans. B.W. Ife), Christopher Columbus: Journal of the First Voyage, 1990.
9. Why is relying only on conquistador journals problematic?
A. They tell the truth
B. They include too many Indigenous voices
C. They are written in difficult handwriting
D. They show only one viewpoint
The Taíno's culture has been designated as "primitive" by Western scholars, yet the Taínos strove to feed all the people, and maintained a spirituality that respected most of their main animal and food sources, as well as the natural forces like climate, season, and weather. The Taíno lived respectfully in a bountiful place and so their nature was bountiful. Excerpted from an article, “Taíno Men of Good” by Jose’ Barreiro, first published in “View from the Shore” American Indian Perspectives on the Quincenfenary” (Northeast Indian Quarterly, Fall I990).
In the excerpt, what is the author suggesting by putting the word “primitive” in quotation marks when describing the Taíno culture?
The Taíno culture was scientifically proven to be less advanced than others.
The term “primitive” is an unfair or misleading label imposed by Western scholars.
The Taíno people referred to themselves as “primitive.”
The term “primitive” accurately reflects the Taíno’s lack of respect for the place they live.
The Taíno's culture has been designated as "primitive" by Western scholars, yet the Taínos strove to feed all the people, and maintained a spirituality that respected most of their main animal and food sources, as well as the natural forces like climate, season, and weather. The Taíno lived respectfully in a bountiful place and so their nature was bountiful. Excerpted from an article, “Taíno Men of Good” by Jose’ Barreiro, first published in “View from the Shore” American Indian Perspectives on the Quincenfenary” (Northeast Indian Quarterly, Fall I990).
In the excerpt, what is the author suggesting by putting the word “primitive” in quotation marks when describing the Taíno culture?
The Taíno culture was scientifically proven to be less advanced than others.
The term “primitive” is an unfair or misleading label imposed by Western scholars.
The Taíno people referred to themselves as “primitive.”
The term “primitive” accurately reflects the Taíno’s lack of respect for the place they live.
The first was the republic of Spaniards, called españoles. It included all Spaniards and individuals associated with them including enslaved Africans, children of Spanish-Indian couples, Asians, and any other non-Indians. The other was the republic of Indians, called indios.
- Beezley, William. “European Colonies in the Americas.” OER, OER Project, 26 Feb. 2025.
If not a part of the encomienda system, where did "indios" live?
A. In cities
B. In Spain
C. In Tenochtitlan
D. Native communities
The first was the republic of Spaniards, called españoles. It included all Spaniards and individuals associated with them including enslaved Africans, children of Spanish-Indian couples, Asians, and any other non-Indians. The other was the republic of Indians, called indios.
- Beezley, William. “European Colonies in the Americas.” OER, OER Project, 26 Feb. 2025.
If not a part of the encomienda system, where did "indios" live?
A. In cities
B. In Spain
C. In Tenochtitlan
D. Native communities