20 Questions
What was the primary motivation for European explorers to venture to the New World?
To find new trade routes and break the duopoly of Genoa and Venice
What was the name of the Latin phrase used by European explorers to describe the Americas?
Mundus Novus
Which of the following was NOT a motivation for European exploration and colonization?
Establishing trade relationships with the Native Americans
What regions of the world are referred to as the Old World?
Europe, Africa, and Asia
What was the main consequence of the introduction of smallpox to the Native American population?
Thousand of Native Americans died due to lack of immunity
What was the Columbian Exchange primarily characterized by?
The exchange of crops, animals, diseases, and people between the Old and New Worlds
What was the primary reason for the distinction between the Old World and the New World?
The Age of Exploration and European colonization
What was the outcome of the Atlantic slave trade initiated during the Age of Exploration?
The forced migration of black Africans to the New World as slaves
Which of the following European countries was NOT a major player in the Age of Exploration?
Germany
What was the significance of the Vikings' journey to North America around 1000 AD?
It was largely unknown to the rest of Europe
What is the primary reason for the distinction between the Old World and the New World being considered Eurocentric?
The system of naming the two worlds was based on the perspective of European explorers.
What was the significance of the Age of Discovery in terms of intercontinental trade?
It initiated the Atlantic slave trade where black Africans were brought to the New World.
Which civilization was NOT a part of the Old World?
The Aztec Empire
What was the primary region of Asia that was familiar to European explorers?
Western Asia
Which of the following countries was NOT a major player in building vast overseas empires in the New World?
Germany
What was the main reason for the Portuguese explorers' desire to explore new trade routes?
To break the Italian city-states' control over the Silk Road
Which two Native American civilizations were the most advanced at the time of Columbus' voyage?
The Inca and the Aztec
What was the primary reason for the English settlers to colonize the New World?
To grow sugar, tobacco, and other valuable crops
Which of the following was a consequence of the Columbian Exchange?
The introduction of new foods into Europe
What was the significance of the phrase 'Gold, Glory, God' in the context of the Age of Exploration?
It referred to the three main motivations for European exploration and colonization
Study Notes
Old World vs New World
- The Old World refers to Europe, Africa, and Asia, while the New World refers to North America, South America, and the Caribbean.
- The terms are Eurocentric, and indigenous inhabitants of the New World did not consider their homes to be newly-discovered parts of the world.
The Old World
- The Old World was home to great civilizations, including ancient Greece and Rome.
- European countries that built vast overseas empires in the New World include England, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
- The Atlantic slave trade initiated during the Age of Exploration, where black Africans were brought to the New World to work as slaves on plantations.
- Asia was also part of the Old World, with Europeans being familiar with western Asia, but less familiar with eastern Asia.
The New World
- The New World was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, which was a major revelation to Europeans.
- There were thousands of Native American cultures, some with highly advanced civilizations, but most were wiped out by contact with Europeans.
- The two most advanced Native American civilizations that existed in the Americas at the time of Columbus' voyage were the Aztec in Central America and the Inca in South America.
Modern-Day New World Countries
- Some modern-day countries that exist in the New World include:
- The United States
- Canada
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Cuba
- The Bahamas
- Argentina
Reasons for European Exploration and Colonization
- European exploration was spurred by the desire to find new trade routes, access to natural resources, acquiring new land for colonies, spreading the Christian faith, and making their home countries more powerful.
- The phrase "Gold, Glory, God" best explains these motivations.
England's Exploration
- England didn't begin colonizing the New World until the early 17th century.
- Many early settlers in North America were Puritans escaping religious persecution, while others were interested in growing valuable crops.
- 13 English colonies would eventually break away from their homeland to form the United States of America.
New World History
- The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of crops, animals, diseases, and people between the Old World and the New World.
- The exchange led to the introduction of many new foods into Europe, including corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and squash.
- Spreading the Catholic faith to the New World was of major importance to Spanish, Portuguese, and French explorers.
- The conversion process was largely the task of priests, who acted as missionaries to the Native American people.
Old World vs New World
- The Old World refers to Europe, Africa, and Asia, while the New World refers to North America, South America, and the Caribbean.
- The terms are Eurocentric, and indigenous inhabitants of the New World did not consider their homes to be newly-discovered parts of the world.
The Old World
- The Old World was home to great civilizations, including ancient Greece and Rome.
- European countries that built vast overseas empires in the New World include England, France, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands.
- The Atlantic slave trade initiated during the Age of Exploration, where black Africans were brought to the New World to work as slaves on plantations.
- Asia was also part of the Old World, with Europeans being familiar with western Asia, but less familiar with eastern Asia.
The New World
- The New World was first discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492, which was a major revelation to Europeans.
- There were thousands of Native American cultures, some with highly advanced civilizations, but most were wiped out by contact with Europeans.
- The two most advanced Native American civilizations that existed in the Americas at the time of Columbus' voyage were the Aztec in Central America and the Inca in South America.
Modern-Day New World Countries
- Some modern-day countries that exist in the New World include:
- The United States
- Canada
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Cuba
- The Bahamas
- Argentina
Reasons for European Exploration and Colonization
- European exploration was spurred by the desire to find new trade routes, access to natural resources, acquiring new land for colonies, spreading the Christian faith, and making their home countries more powerful.
- The phrase "Gold, Glory, God" best explains these motivations.
England's Exploration
- England didn't begin colonizing the New World until the early 17th century.
- Many early settlers in North America were Puritans escaping religious persecution, while others were interested in growing valuable crops.
- 13 English colonies would eventually break away from their homeland to form the United States of America.
New World History
- The Columbian Exchange refers to the exchange of crops, animals, diseases, and people between the Old World and the New World.
- The exchange led to the introduction of many new foods into Europe, including corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and squash.
- Spreading the Catholic faith to the New World was of major importance to Spanish, Portuguese, and French explorers.
- The conversion process was largely the task of priests, who acted as missionaries to the Native American people.
Understanding the terms Old World and New World in the context of the Age of Exploration, including their Eurocentric origins and implications for indigenous peoples.
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