Share Colonization
Save to Folder
Who was inspired by Marco Polo's writings
Christopher Columbus
What was Christopher Columbus's nationality
He was Italian
What did Columbus believe was the shortest route to the Indies
He believed the shortest route was west across the Atlantic Ocean.
Who were the people Columbus encountered
They were the Taino, an Indigenous people of the Caribbean.
How did Columbus describe the Taino
He described them as peaceful, generous, and welcoming.
Why is it difficult to know exactly how the Taino felt about the Europeans
The Taino had no written language, so they left no written records describing their reactions.
What was the Columbian Exchange
It was the transfer of people, plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and Europe across the Atlantic Ocean.
Name three crops that were brought from the Americas to Europe
Corn, potatoes, and squash.
How did American crops affect Europeans
They improved the diet of many Europeans.
What foods were introduced to people in the Americas by Europeans
Wheat and rice.
What else did Europeans introduce to the Americas besides crops and animals
Diseases and slavery.
Why was the Columbian Exchange especially devastating to Indigenous people
Europeans brought diseases, slavery, violence, and harsh working conditions.
What disease caused many Indigenous people to die
Smallpox.
Approximately what percentage of some Indigenous populations was wiped out by European diseases
Up to 90 percent.
What were Spanish conquistadors
They were Spanish soldiers and explorers sent to conquer lands and empires for Spain.
Who was Hernán Cortés
He was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire.
