Questions and Answers
What was one of the main agricultural products that contributed to economic growth among Native American societies in the Southwest?
Which technological advancement did NOT significantly contribute to European exploration in the 15th century?
Which civilization was known for establishing cities in the forests of the Yucatan Peninsula?
What was the primary goal of the line of demarcation established by the Pope in 1493?
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What were the main reasons for the decline of feudalism in the context of the Columbian Exchange?
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What was a significant effect of the Columbian Exchange on the population of the Americas?
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Which factor did NOT lead to the spread of Christianity among European nations during the 15th and 16th centuries?
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Which native group was part of the Iroquois Confederation?
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What motivated European nations to find new routes to Asia in the 15th century?
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Which factor primarily contributed to the mobility of tribes in the Great Basin and Great Plains?
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Which of the following was a significant feature of trading posts established during the early European exploration of the Americas?
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What was a key result of Isabella and Ferdinand's marriage in Spain?
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What was the primary impact of the printing press on European knowledge in the context of exploration?
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Which group was the first to claim territories in the Americas?
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Study Notes
Motives for Migration
- Desire to spread religions and gain wealth through new water routes to Asia.
- Establishment of trading posts and extraction of resources from gold and silver mines.
- Development of plantations for resource production.
Columbian Exchange
- Exchange introduced various animals, plants, and foods to the Americas, including corn, potatoes, and tomatoes.
- Diseases, such as smallpox, were also transferred, causing significant population declines among Native Americans.
Native American Societies Before European Contact
- Three advanced civilizations in Central and South America: Mayas (Yucatán), Aztecs (central Mexico), Incas (Peru) known for extensive trade and calendars.
- North American cultures displayed less complexity; slower maize cultivation resulted in smaller populations and diverse languages.
- Notable settlements included:
- Southwest: Hohokam, Anasazi, and Pueblos; developed complex societies through maize agriculture but faced droughts.
- Northwest: Longhouses and plank houses; focused on hunting, fishing, and oral storytelling, isolated by mountains.
- Great Basin and Great Plains: Lived a mobile lifestyle as hunters; some formed permanent settlements, hunting buffalo and trading.
- Mississippi River Valley: Established permanent settlements and complex societies.
- Northeast: Developed agriculture but relocated due to soil depletion; formed Iroquois Confederation (Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, Tuscaroras).
European Exploration in the Americas
- Driven by desires to spread religion and discover new trade routes to Asia.
- Technological innovations from the Renaissance, including gunpowder, navigation instruments, shipbuilding advances, and the printing press, facilitated exploration.
- The marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand united kingdoms, leading to the Catholic victory in Spain and the launch of Columbus's journey.
- The Protestant Reformation sparked religious wars, compelling Spain and Portugal alongside England and Holland to spread their interpretations of Christianity.
New Routes and Slave Trading
- Nations aimed to discover new routes to Asia for trade, leading to the establishment of colonies utilizing slave labor for profitable sugar production.
Nation-States Formation
- Shift from small kingdoms to larger, unified nation-states where people shared common culture or loyalty.
- Smaller empires fragmented amid larger political movements.
Dividing the Americas
- Spanish and Portuguese were the first to claim lands; overlapping claims caused tensions.
- The Line of Demarcation was established in 1493, dividing territories into Spanish (west) and Portuguese (east); the Treaty of Tordesillas adjusted this line in 1494.
- English claims began with John Cabot’s exploration, but focused later on religious conflicts; they attacked Spanish shipping and settlements.
- French interests were marked by Giovanni da Verrazzano’s exploration (1524), seeking the Northwest Passage, but were slow to colonize due to internal conflicts.
Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Exchange
- Columbus sailed from Canary Islands to Bahamas, initiating the Columbian Exchange.
- Exchange resulted in Europeans discovering new foods that supported population growth, while Amerindians faced severe declines due to illness and lack of immunity.
- Rise of capitalism as trading increased; decline of feudalism shifted power from landowners to wealthy merchants.
- Emergence of joint-stock companies allowed for risk-sharing in funding trading expeditions, promoting economic growth.
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Description
Explore the key motives for migration from 1491 to 1607, including religious aspirations, wealth, and trade. Learn about the Columbian Exchange and the impact on Native American societies prior to European contact, highlighting the major civilizations such as the Mayas.