Sample Quiz

Revision Card 1: Christopher Columbus Finding the Americas

• Year of Exploration: 1492

• Background: Columbus was an Italian explorer funded by Spain’s King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella.

• Objective: To find a westward sea route to Asia.

• Voyage: Columbus set sail with three ships: the Niña, the Pinta, and the Santa María.

• Discovery: On October 12, 1492, Columbus landed on an island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador.

• Misconception: Columbus thought he had reached Asia (the Indies), hence calling the native people "Indians."

• Significance: Columbus's voyages led to the widespread awareness of the Americas in Europe.

Revision Card 2: Impact of Columbus's Voyages

• Colonization: Columbus's discoveries opened the way for the colonization of the Americas by European powers.

• Exchange: The Columbian Exchange began, involving the transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World.

• Indigenous Peoples: The arrival of Europeans had devastating effects on native populations due to diseases, warfare, and enslavement.

Revision Card 3: The Aztec Empire Before the Conquest

• Location: Central Mexico, in what is now Mexico City.

• Capital: Tenochtitlan, an advanced city built on an island in Lake Texcoco.

• Society: The Aztecs were known for their rich culture, impressive architecture, and complex social, political, and religious systems.

• Economy: The Aztec economy was based on agriculture, trade, and tribute from conquered territories.

Revision Card 4: Hernán Cortés and the Battle with the Aztecs

• Year: 1519-1521

• Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, a Spanish explorer and soldier.

• Allies: Cortés formed alliances with other indigenous groups who were enemies of the Aztecs.

• Fall of Tenochtitlan: In 1521, after a prolonged siege, Tenochtitlan fell to Cortés's forces.

• Emperor: The Aztec emperor Montezuma II was captured and later died under unclear circumstances.

• Outcome: The fall of the Aztec Empire marked the beginning of Spanish dominance in the region.

Revision Card 5: Aftermath of the Conquest

• Colonial Rule: Spain established the colony of New Spain, with Mexico City built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

• Cultural Impact: The conquest led to the blending of Spanish and indigenous cultures, but also to significant loss of indigenous culture, traditions, and population.

• Legacy: The events shaped the history and identity of modern Mexico.