Module 1

Question 1

Describe Europe in the Middle Ages.

Answer 1

Europe was poor and lightly populated.

Question 2

What did the Silk Road bring to Europe?

Answer 2

It brought spices, silk, and luxury goods, but Europeans had little to offer (except slaves).

Question 3

What disease wiped out Europeans?

Answer 3

In the 14th century- cities/towns were rebounding after the Black Death.

Question 4

What allowed people to trade over the sea?

Answer 4

The Mediterranean highway.

Question 5

In the early 14th century, what was the accidental discovery?

Answer 5

The Canary Islands were discovered and were a huge navigation accomplishment pad for future expeditions.

Question 6

Most expeditions by the Spanish were =

Answer 6

private ventures, with some royal sanction/license.

Question 7

By _____century,_____ was expanding in size, wealth and power.

Answer 7

15th century, Ottoman Empire

Question 8

Who was threatened by the Ottoman Empire’s expansion?

Answer 8

The European Christians.

Question 9

In what year did Constantinople fall to the Ottoman Empire’s control?

Answer 9

1453

Question 10

What were the Portuguese doing in the 15th century?

Answer 10

Portuguese hopped down the coast of Africa, setting up trading posts.

Question 11

Who gave the Portuguese the funding to travel? What did he want in return?

Answer 11

Henry the Navigator gave the Portuguese funding to travel to the coast of Africa, as long as he got 20% of the profit.

Question 12

In what years did Columbus make his voyages?

Answer 12

1492, 1493, 1498, and 1502

Question 13

Who gave Columbus his funding to travel?

Answer 13

Columbus got funding from the Spanish monarchs who were threatened by the Muslim faith. He got 3 boats, sailors, and a title.

Question 14

What was Columbus like?

Answer 14

Was an amazing sailor, but refused to acknowledge when he was wrong. Became irrationally religious and died in shame and poverty.

Question 15

___ drew ____ in ____.

Answer 15

Pope drew the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1492. Spain got the east, Portugal got the west.

Question 16

What were the motivations for exploration?

Answer 16

God- anxious to expand Christianity, competition with Islam.
Glory- an honor for the Kingdom.
Gold- profit
Technology-improvement in shipbuilding.
Curiosity- about other people and the natural world.

Question 17

What was the Aztec capital city?

Answer 17

Tenochtitlan (today’s Mexico City). They were advanced at engineering, architecture, astronomy, math, and hieroglyphics.

Question 18

What are Chinampas?

Answer 18

Floating gardens to support a large population (Aztecs).

Question 19

What were the Aztecs like before the Spanish?

Answer 19

By the 1430s- they were aggressively expanding and dominating. Neighboring tribes were conquered or subjected to a “tribute” system. Believed in sacrifices to the Gods.

Question 20

Who was Hernan Cortes?

Answer 20

Was ambitious, adventurous, fearless, and wasn’t authorized to travel to Mexico by the Spanish crown.

Question 21

Where did Hernan Cortes travel to?

Answer 21

Hopped over from Cuba to the coast of Mexico, then worked his way inland gathering support from local tribes.

Question 22

When was the Siege of Tenochtitlan?

Answer 22

May-August 1521

Question 23

What were some of the Spaniards’ advantages during the Siege of Tenochtitlan?

Answer 23

Superior weapons, use of horses and dogs, support of local tribes, and imported European diseases.

Question 24

What were the Codices?

Answer 24

Books were commissioned by the Spanish government to inform Spanish royalty about their new lands. Contained history/culture of the area.

Question 25

How were the Incas different from the Aztecs?

Answer 25

Incas rarely had sacrifices. Were originally from Western South Africa, and advanced in engineering because of the earthquakes in the area. Everyone paid tax and labor but got something in return.

Question 26

How did the Incas communicate from far away?

Answer 26

Communicated state to state through relay runners and “quipus” (knotted ropes). They memorized and passed on messages.

Question 27

What were the Incas like before the Spanish? (Dates are included)

Answer 27

In the 1430s, they were aggressively expanding their empire.
In the 1520s, there was an epidemic followed by a civil war (two brothers fighting for the throne).

Question 28

Which brother won the Inca Civil War?

Answer 28

Atahualpa won, but the empire was weakened.

Question 29

Who was Francisco Pizarro?

Answer 29

He was the cousin of Cortes and worked in Panama.

Question 30

In ___, Francisco Pizarro sailed down ____ gathering clues and translators.

Answer 30

In 1530, Francisco Pizarro sailed down South America coast, gathering clues and translators.

Question 31

When did Francisco Pizarro conquer the Incas?

Answer 31

In November 1532, Pizarro conquered Atahualpa with 168 Spanish soldiers.

Question 32

What were some of the Spanish advantages when capturing the Inca empire?

Answer 32

Incas fatigue, Trickery/ bribery, and horses.

Question 33

What event and data was Atahualpa supposed to meet the Spanish?

Answer 33

November 16, 1532- Cajamarca. Supposed to be diplomatic meetings, Atahualpa walked into a trap. Spanish men and arms ambushed him.

Question 34

What was the Spanish’s reason for starting a war with the Incas?

Answer 34

Atahualpa dropped the Bible= Spanish excuse to seize him.

Question 35

What was the Encomienda System?

Answer 35

Spanish crown granted land and native workers to the Conquistadors.

Question 36

Where was the Encomienda System set up? What were the lands good for?

Answer 36

Was mainly set up in South America and Hispaniola. Lands were good for farming and mining.

Question 37

Why was the Encomienda System set up?

Answer 37

Was a way to attract more Spaniards to settle in the New World. They wanted to use the natives for cheap/free labor.

Question 38

What was the “deal” between the Spanish and the Natives?

Answer 38

Natives lived/worked on land owned by Spanish “encomenderos” paying rent in crops or metals. In return, the Spanish were supposed to protect native workers, provide for their care, and educate them about Christianity.

Question 39

Who opposed the Encomienda System?

Answer 39

Father Bartolome de Las Casas brought the abuses to the attention of the crown.

Question 40

What was the result of the Spanish economy because of the Encomienda System?

Answer 40

Some results were that the Spanish got rich. These riches flooded the economy with silver (causing inflation).

Question 41

What happened to the culture of the Natives?

Answer 41

There was a loss of cultural identity amongst many tribes because of intermarriage between Spanish men and native women.

Question 42

What was this a precursor of?

Answer 42

Was a precursor to the trans-Atlantic slave trade because there weren’t enough natives for labor.

Question 43

What was the requerimiento? When was it written?

Answer 43

The Spanish Requirement of 1513 was a declaration from the monarchy saying that Spain had the right to conquer the natives land.

Question 44

What were the Aztec dates?

Answer 44

1428-1521.

Question 45

What were the Incas dates?

Answer 45

1438-1532

Question 46

When did Encomienda system start?

Answer 46

1503