PERIOD 1: 1491-1607

Question 1

What is the Columbian Exchange?

Answer 1

The Columbian exchange was the trading of crops, animals, people, and diseases between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Question 2

Where were the Mayans based?

Answer 2

The Mayans were based in the Yucatan peninsula.

Question 3

Where were the Aztecs based?

Answer 3

The Aztecs were based in modern-day Central Mexico.

Question 4

Where were the Incas based?

Answer 4

The Incas were based in modern-day Peru.

Question 5

What crop were the Aztecs and Mayans known for harvesting?

Answer 5

Maize.

Question 6

What crop were the Incas known for harvesting?

Answer 6

Potatoes.

Question 7

What tribes were located in the Southwest? What were they known for?

Answer 7

Hokokam, Anasazi, Pueblo, etc. Farming, irrigation, multi-storied buildings.

Question 8

What were the Great Plains tribes known for?

Answer 8

They were Nomadic or sedentary hunters of buffalo. They resided in Tepes. They harvested maize, beans, and squash. They traded amongst other tribes. In the 17th century they gained horses from the Spanish which made hunting across the plains easier.

Question 9

What were the Midwest tribes known for?

Answer 9

Hunting, fishing, and agriculture. Adena Hopewell’s culture was known for large earth mounds.

Question 10

Northwest?

Answer 10

They were descendants of Adena Hopewell. Hunting and farming. Frequently needed to move due to their farming methods affecting the soil. Nuts, berries, totem poles.

Question 11

What was the Iroquois confederation?

Answer 11

A league of five nations consisting of Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, and Mohawk. They were known for creating laws and a democratic government.

Question 12

Who were the Atlantic Seaboard people (East coast)?

Answer 12

They were descendants of the Woodland mound builders. Known for timber and bark lodgings along rivers.

Question 13

Why did the Europeans wish to explore the Americas?

Answer 13

• They had the renaissance tech needed to explore. (gunpowder, sailing compasses, lateen sails, etc.)
• Better ships, maps, printing press.
• Roman Catholics felt threatened by the Ottomans
• Spain had recently gained back the Iberian Peninsula from North African Muslims and wished to find people to convert.
• Isabella and Ferdinand had united through their marriage for an even stronger catholic bonding.

Question 14

What did Columbus do?

Answer 14

Columbus gained the financial support to be able to visit Asia for trading opportunities through maritime exploration. He somehow ended up sailing all the way to the continent of America on an island in the Bahamas. Yeah man, I don’t really get how that happens. Historians argue over if he was legit or just at the right place at the right time to this day. Acknowledged for harming many Native Americans and spreading disease.

Question 15

What did Vasco Nunez do?

Answer 15

He crossed the Isthmus of Panama.

Question 16

What did Ferdinand Magellan do?

Answer 16

He navigated the world and went across the East Indies.

Question 17

What did Herman Cortes do?

Answer 17

He conquered the Aztecs.

Question 18

What did Francisco Pizzaro do?

Answer 18

He conquered the Incas.

Question 19

Why was Spain so wealthy during the Renaissance period?

Answer 19

Spanish conquistadors brought back gold and silver from the Americas, resulting in a 500% increase.

Question 20

What form of government was rising at this time for Europe?

Answer 20

Monarchy.

Question 21

What is Feudalism and what was Europe converting to?

Answer 21

Feudalism is when people work under a noble on their land in exchange for protection. Due to the arrival of gold and silver at such a high rate, the continent was converting into a capitalist society.

Question 22

What was the Encomienda system?

Answer 22

The Encomienda system was an unfair use of Native Americans as laborers in exchange for protection and the opportunity to convert to Christianity.

Question 23

What was the Asiento system?

Answer 23

The Asiento system was a way to bring African Slaves into the Americas by putting a tax on each slave.

Question 24

Who was John Cabot?

Answer 24

Sponsored by King Henry the 8th, he voyaged to the coast of North America on 1497.

Question 25

What was King Henry VIII’s deal?

Answer 25

Due to his desire to get divorced to his brother’s widowed wife, Catherine, he created the Church of England because the pope refused to go through with his divorce. Converted to protestant.

Question 26

Who was Sir Francis Drake?

Answer 26

Drake was a “pirate” hired by Queen Elizabeth I, and navigated the world. He also attacked some Spanish ships and seized gold and silver for England. Overall, pretty badass and reminds me of my love for Nathan Drake and the Uncharted series.

Question 27

Who was Sir Walter Raleigh?

Answer 27

Sir Walter Raleigh was a British dude who attempted to claim the New York Coast, specifically an island known as Roanoke; failed miserabley.

Question 28

Who was Giovanni da Verrazzano?

Answer 28

A dude who explored the East Coast and New York harbor on behalf of France in 1524.

Question 29

Who was Jacques Cartier?

Answer 29

A dude who explored the St. Lawrence river. Named Canada.

Question 30

Who were the Huguenots?

Answer 30

They were French protestants.

Question 31

What was the first permanent French settlement and who found it?

Answer 31

The first permanent settlement in Canada was founded by Samuel de Champlain and was named Quebec in 1608. He was named the “Father of New France.”

Question 32

Where did Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette explore?

Answer 32

Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette explored the upper Mississippi river in 1673.

Question 33

Where did Robert de La Salle explore in 1682?

Answer 33

Robert de La Salle explored the Mississippi basin as well as Louisianna.

Question 34

What did Henry Hudson explore on behalf of the Dutch?

Answer 34

Henry Hudson explored the Hudson river and New Amsterdam, now known as New York.

Question 35

What did the Dutch West India Company do?

Answer 35

The Dutch West India Company controlled the region for economic gain.

Question 36

What resulted as the Spaniards intermarrying with the Native American and African population?

Answer 36

A class system.

Question 37

Who was Bartolome de Las Casas and what did he do?

Answer 37

Bartolome de Las Casas was a Spanish priest who after previously being against the Native Americans, soon learned of their humanity and temporarily convinced the king to pass a law to end their slavery. This would result in the decline of the Encomienda system as well.

Question 38

How was England different to Spain in terms of colonization?

Answer 38

English explorers often came as full families, unlike Spain, which brought a bunch of single men. They settled in areas without large Native American empires, and initially would trade items and ideas with them (coexisted.) But then, they saw them as savages and started claiming more and more land until the Natives were like “Hey guys I think something’s a little off.”

Question 39

How was the French’s relationship with the Natives?

Answer 39

Compared to other European nations, their relations were way better, as the French mostly just wanted to trade fur and convert people to catholicism. They often had trading posts based in the St. Lawrence river, Great Lakes, and Mississippi river. French goods would be sold for beaver pelts. The French also assisted the Natives in fighting the Iriquois.