Chapter 5 vocab Flashcards
Conquistadors
Spanish explorers who came to the Americas in 1500s and claimed large areas of land for Spain. Conquistador means “conqueror “. The conquistadors often conquered native peoples (ruled over them in the name of Spain).
Northwest Passage
The supposed route across the northern part of North America that Europeans were looking for but never found. The explorers had hoped to find the Northwest passage from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean so that they could get to Asia more quickly.
East Indies
Southeast Asia, including India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Colonies
Places rules by another country, not by their own people.
Contagious diseases
Sicknesses that can pass from one person to another as germs are spread by touch or through the air. For example influenza (“the flu”) is a contagious disease.