California Standards

History-Social Science
7.7 Students compare and contrast the geographic, political,
economic, religious, and social structures of the Meso-American
and Andean civilizations.
7.11 Students analyze political and economic change in the
sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries (the Age of
Exploration, the Enlightenment, and the Age of Reason).

Analysis Skills
HR1 Students frame questions that can be answered by historical
study and research.

English-Language Arts
Writing 8.2.1.a Relate a clear, coherent incident, event, or
situation by using well-chosen details.
Reading 8.1.0 Students recognize specialized vocabulary.

Writing a Letter In this chapter, you'll learn about many

different groups of people struggling to make a home for
themselves in the Americas. Imagine that one of these is
a French trader named Jacques working in America in the
early 1700s. After you read this chapter, you'll write a letter
from Jacques to his family in France. You'll tell them about
c. 38,000- c. 5000 BC
10,000 BC Communities
Paleo-Indians in Mexico
migrate to the cultivate corn.
Americas.
 1588 England's defeat
432 BC of the Spanish Armada
The Parthenon prompts other European
509 BC The Roman I is completed in nations to explore the
Republic is established. Athens. Americas.
,' < tv
c. 2600 BC The Great 1492 Christopher
Pyramid is built at Giza, Columbus and his crew
Egypt, as the tomb for reach the Americas on
the pharaoh Khufu. October 12.

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT ]

Focus on Themes This chapter explains the English, and the French all wanted a part of this ·
discovery and early development of Mesoamerica new land. As you read the chapter, you will see
and North America. You will read about early how geography affected exploration and will learn
explorers from Europe, learn about the early about the economic issues that influenced growth
settlements, and discover why the Spanish, the and settlements.

Specialized Vocabulary of Social Studies

Focus on R_eading If you flipped through · Specialized Vocabulary Words that are used in
the pages of this book, would you expect to see : only one field are called specialized vocabulary. Like
anything about square roots or formulas? How • most subjects, social studies has its own specialized
about Petri dishes or hypotheses? Of course you : vocabulary. The charts below list some terms you
wouldn't. Those are terms you'd only see in math • may encounter as you read this book.
and science books.

Terms that deal with time

Decade a period of 10 years
Century a period of 100 years
Era a long period marked by great events, developments, or figures
BC a term used to identify dates that occurred long ago, before the birth of jesus Christ, the founder of
Christianity; it means "before Christ." BC dates get smaller as time passes, so the larger the number
the earlier the date.
AD a term used to identify dates that occurred after jesus's birth; it comes from a Latin phrase that
means "in the year of our Lord." Unlike BC dates, AD dates get larger as time passes, so the larger
the number the later the date.
BCE another way to refer to BC dates; it stands for "before the common era"
CE another way to refer to AD dates; it stands for "common era" i

economics the study of the creation and use of goods and services
movement a series of actions that bring about or try to bring about a change in society
campaign an effort to win a political office, or a series of military actions
colony a territory settled and controlled by a country

4 CHAPTER 1
 Chapter 1
Section 1
The following passage shows you how some specialized vocabulary is Paleo-Indians (p. 6)
defined in context. migration (p. 6)
hunter-gatherers (p. 6)
....., environments (p. 7)
societies (p. 7)
Migration to the Americas culture (p. 7)
Different environments influenced the From totems (p. 10)
Chapter 1, Iroquois League (p. 11)
development ofNative American societies- p. 7
groups that share a culture. Culture is a Section 2
group's set of common values and traditions. capital (p. 13)
joint-stock companies (p. 13)
These include language, government, and
Christopher Columbus (p. 15)
family relationships. Ferdinand Magellan (p. 17)
Like all societies, Native American groups Northwest Passage (p. 17)
changed over time. They learned to domesti- Columbian Exchange (p.18)
cate, or breed, wild plants and animals.
Section 3
conquistadors (p. 20)
Hernan Cortes (p. 20)
Using the clues to understand meaning. Moctezuma II (p. 20)
Francisco Pizarro (p. 21)
1. Find the word societies. The phrase after the dash is the definition. Junfpero Serra (p. 22)
Often in this book, specialized vocabulary words are defined after encomienda system (p. 22)
a dash. So be on the lookout for dashes. Bartolome de Las Casas (p. 23)
plantations (p. 23)
2. The word domesticate is defined in the fifth sentence. The clue to
finding this definition is the comma followed by the word or.
Section 4
Protestant Reformation (p. 25)
Look at what the comma does in that sentence: Protestants (p. 25)
printing press (p. 25)
They learned to domesticate or breed wild plants .. .
Spanish Armada (p. 25)
They learned to domesticate, or breed, wild plants .. . inflation (p. 25)
charter (p. 27)
Without the comma, the sentence is saying that Native American
groups did two things to wild plants-domesticate and breed. But Academic Vocabulary
with the comma before the word or, you understand that "breed" Success in school is related to
is the definition of "domesticate." knowing academic vocabulary-
the words that are frequently used
3. In the first and second sentences, you see a term that is in bold- in school assignments and discus-
sions. In this chapter, you will learn
face print. You should recognize that word from seeing it on the the following academic words:
section opener. The definition is highlighted. Why do you think
method (p. B)
some specialized vocabulary words are in boldface print while develop (p. 10)
others are not?

As you read Chapter 1, keep track of the

specialized vocabulary you learn in your
notebook.

EARL)f EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 5

 YOU were t'n ere...
Main Ideas
You live in North America near the end of the Ice Age, about
1. Climate changes allowed
people to migrate to the 10,000 years ago. For weeks, your hunter-gatherer group has been
Americas. following a herd of elk across a marshy landscape. This trip has
2. Early societies existed in
Mesoamerica and North taken you far from your usual hunting grounds. The air is warmer
America. here. There are thick grasses and bushes full of berries. You decide
3. Cultures in North America
were influenced by the to camp here for the summer-and perhaps settle down.
environment.
.-......... + 1\VWO staying ehange your way of life'/
The Big Idea
Native American societies
developed across Mesoamerica
and North America. BUILDING BACKGROUND The first settlers in the Americas ·,
probably came in small groups from Asia over thousands of years.
Key Terms and People Over time, they moved into nearly every region of North and South
Paleo-Indians, p. 6 America. They encountered many different types of land and climate.
migration, p. 6
hunter-gatherers, p. 6
environments, p. 7 Migration to the Americas
societies, p. 7
culture, p. 7 Many scientists believe that people first arrived in North America
totems, p. TO during the last Ice Age. At the start of the Ice Age, Earth's climate
Iroquois League, p. 11 grew colder. Large amounts of water froze into huge, moving ice
sheets called glaciers. As a result, ocean levels dropped more than
300 feet lower than they are today. When the water level fell, a
land bridge appeared between northeastern Asia and present-day
Alaska. Geographers call this the Bering Land Bridge. Although no
one knows exactly when or how people crossed into North Ameri-
ca, evidence suggests that people called Paleo-Indians crossed this
bridge into Alaska between 38,000 and 10,000 BC.
This migration-a movement of people or animals from one

r;;J region to another-took place over a long time. The Paleo-Indians

are thought to have traveled into present-day Canada, the United
G:m 7.7.1 Study the locations, States, and Mexico in search of animals to hunt. Over time,
landforms, and climates of Mexico, their descendants went as far as the tip of South America. Paleo-
Central America, and South America
and their effects on Mayan, Aztec,
Indians were hunter-gatherers who lived by hunting animals and
and lncan economies, trade, and gathering wild plants.
development of urban societies.

6 CHAPTER 1
 When the Ice
Age ended about
8000 BC, Earth's eli- / -, ~·--:.~.~·/
mate changed. Rising /
temperatures melted glaciers. /
The oceans rose, covering the Bering / 1, :

Land Bridge with water. As late as ' ·

1000 BC, people continued to come to
North America in small boats.
The warmer climate at the end of the
Ice Age created many new environments,
or climates and landscapes that surround
living things. Short grasses replaced the
taller grasses that had fed giant animals
such as the mammoth. Large herds of
smaller animals such as buffalo and
deer ate the new short grasses. Paleo-
Indians adapted to the changes by
hunting these animals.
Different environments influenced
the development of Native American
societies- groups that share a culture.
Culture is a group's set of common values
and traditions. These include language, gov-
ernment, and family relationships.
Like all societies, Native American groups
changed over time. They learned to domesti-
cate, or breed, wild plants and animals. Maize,
or corn, was one of the most important crops.
Early farming societies began in Mesoamerica 1. Movement In what general direction
(Central America) and South America. did these early people migrate?
2. Human-Environment Interaction
Finding Main Ideas What natural features affected the
How did changes in the climate lead to the arrival route people took from Alaska to
southern North America?
of the first people in the Americas?

EARLY EXP
 Mesoamerican and North
American Societies
Some of the earliest American civilizations
developed in Mesoamerica, also called Cen-
tral America. The Olmec society was one of
the first.

Mesoamerica and South America

The Olmec society developed along the
Mexican Gulf coast between about 1200
ACADEMIC and 400 BC. Olmec priests created complex
VOCABULARY number and calendar systems. They also
method a way of
developed a method of writing using glyphs,
doing something
or symbols that represent ideas.
The Maya civilization thrived in south-
eastern Mesoamerica from about AD 300 to Cultures in
900. The Maya built large stone temples, pal-
aces, and bridges. They created calendars and
North America
studied mathematics and astronomy. Researchers use culture areas-the geographic
About AD 1200, Aztec invaders came locations that influenced societies-to help
south and occupied the central valley of them describe ancient Native American peo-
Mexico. At the same time, the Inca of South ples. North America is divided into several
America created their own civilization in culture areas.
the Andes Mountains. Eventually, the Inca
Empire stretched from present-day Ecuador Far North
to central Chile. The Far North of North America is divided
into the Arctic and Subarctic culture areas.
North American Societies Both regions have long, cold winters and
Although less populated than South Amer- short summers. Few plants grow in the Arctic
ica and Mesoamerica, North America had because the ground is always frozen beneath
several farming cultures. One of these, the a thin, top layer of soil. The Inuit peoples
Anasazi (ah-nuh-sAH-zee), lived in the Four adapted to these harsh conditions in pres-
Corners region, where present-day Arizona, ent-day northern Alaska and Canada. The
Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah meet.
The Hopewell, another farming culture,
lived along the Mississippi, Ohio, and lower
Missouri River valleys. They supported their
Aleut lived in western Alaska. The two groups
shared many cultural features, including lan-
guage. Both survived by fishing and by hunt-
ing large mammals. They also depended on
dogs for many tasks, such as hunting and
I
large populations with agriculture and trade.
They built large burial mounds to honor their pulling sleds.
dead. The Mississippians lived along the Ohio South of the Arctic lies the Subarctic,
and Mississippi rivers. They, too, farmed, home to groups such as the Dogrib and
traded, and built large burial mounds. Montagnais peoples. While following the
seasonal migrations of the deer, they lived in
"tJ7!'""""17J'?1'Y Summarizing What early temporary shelters made of animal skins. At
societies existed in Mesoamerica and North other times they lived in villages made up of
America? log houses.

8 CHAPTER 1
 Subarctic D Great Basin
Northwest Coast D California
D Plateau D Southwest
~~ - - Southeast
- --- 500 Miles

50W

NORTH
AMERICA

Plains
Blackfoot Cree

Apache

Comanche

//

~~ /
_/ __ ~.. '

1. Region Why did some culture areas have

fewer groups of people than other culture
areas did? ·
2. Human-Environment Interaction What
natural features served as boundaries
between culture areas?
 Why do you think a fence was
placed around the /onghouses?

Pacific Coast West and Southwest

Unlike the Far North, the Pacific Coast had The West and Southwest of the present-day
a mild climate. The area had a rich supply United States received less rain than the
of game animals, sea life, and wild plants. Pacific Coast and California regions did. To
ACADEMIC These resources allowed large populations to survive, Native Americans fished, hunted,
VOCABULARY develop without the need for farming. and gathered plants. Groups in the West
develop: the (which is divided into the Great Basin and
People in the Northwest like the
process of
growing or Kwakiutl and the Chinook built wooden Plateau regions) and Southwest included the
improving houses and carved images of totems- Modoc and Nez Perce.
ancestor or animal spirits-on tall, wooden Native Americans of the West adapted
poles. People showed their wealth and to the drier climate by gathering seeds, dig-
earned social standing by holding special ging roots, and trapping small animals for
events called potlatches. At these gatherings food. Most groups in this region, including
hosts gave away most of their belongings to the Paiute, Shoshone, and Ute, spoke the
gain respect. same language.
Native Americans of the Southwest also
California adapted to a dry climate. Southwestern cul-
Farther south along the coast was the Cali- ture groups included the Apache, Navajo,
fornia region. Native Americans living in this and Pueblo. The Pueblo irrigated their land
area had many food sources available year- to grow crops. Pueblo religion focused on two
round, so farming was not necessary. One key areas of Pueblo life-rain and maize. The
major plant food was acorns, which were Apache hunted game and raided the villages
ground into a flour. People in the California of the Pueblo and others.
region also fished and hunted deer and other
game. Most Native Americans here lived in Great Plains
isolated groups of families. Each of these The huge Great Plains region stretches south
groups had a small population of only SO to from Canada into Texas. This culture area
300 people. Among these Native American is bordered by the Mississippi Valley on the
groups, including the Hupa, Miwok, and east and the Rocky Mountains on the west.
Yokuts, more than 100 different languages The Plains were mainly grassland, on which
were spoken. millions of buffalo and other game grazed

10 CHAPTER 1
in herds. Groups like the Mandan and the To the east of the Algonquian lived the
Pawnee grew beans, maize, and squash. Like Iroquois. The Iroquois were farmers, hunt-
some other Native American groups, Pawnee ers, and traders. They lived in longhouses, or
society was matrilineal. This means that rectangular homes made from logs and bark
people traced their ancestry through their that housed 8 to 10 families.
mothers, not their fathers. The Iroquois also developed the Iroquois
People on the southern Plains hunted League. This political confederation was
buffalo on foot and gathered berries, nuts, established by the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida,
and vegetables. The Arapaho, Blackfoot, and Onondaga, and Seneca nations. The League
Comanche lived on the borders of the Plains. waged war against and made peace with non-
Hunters from these groups killed buffalo by Iroquois peoples. Its goal was to strengthen
chasing the animals over steep cliffs, driving the alliance against invasion. Women selected
them into corrals, or trapping them with a the male members of the League council.
ring of fire. Women could overrule council decisions
and could remove its members. The League
East helped the Iroquois become one of the most
Eastern North America was rich in sources for powerful peoples in North America.
food and shelter. Most southeastern groups,
including the Cherokee, Creek, and Semi- anan·,rnnuaa·r Generalizing How did the
nole, lived in farming villages governed by environment influence Native American cultures in
village councils. North America?
The Algonquian and Iroquois people were
the two main groups of the Northeast. Algon- 5Ur1r1ARY AND PREVIEW In this section
quian peoples, whose territory extended to you learned about the first people in North
the Far North region, survived by hunting and South America. In the next section
and gathering plants. Those in the south you'll read about European exploration
farmed, hunted, gathered plants, and fished. that led to the discovery of the Americas.

Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People lmD 7.7.1

1. a. Describe How did people migrate to the the Far North, the Southwest, and the East affected
Americas? the cultures of the Native Americans who lived in
b. Analyze How did the warmer climate affect the each area.
environment in which Paleo-Indians lived?
Far North
2. a. Identify What farming cultures existed in North
America?
b. Sequence In what order did Mesoamerican
civilizations arise?
3. a. Recall What was the Iroquois League?
b. Draw Conclusions Why were Native Americans
who practiced agriculture more likely than hunter-
gatherers to establish permanent homes?
5. Taking Notes on Native American Groups As you
Critical Thinking read this section, take notes on each group of Native
4. Identifying Cause and Effect Using a chart like Americans discussed. Make sure to note how they
the one at right, show how the environments of lived and what was unique about their cultures.

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 11

 If YOU were there ...
Main Ideas Everyone in your small coastal town in Spain is very excited. Three
1. Economic growth in Europe
led to new ways of thinking.
ships have arrived in the harbor. Their captains plan to f1nd a new
2. Trade with Africa and Asia route to the Indies, where spices come from! They need sailors
led to a growing interest in
exploration.
to join their crews, and some of your friends have signed on. The
3. Many European nations rushed voyage sounds thrilling. But it also sounds dangerous. No one has
to explore the Americas.
4. The Columbian Exchange
made a trip like this before.
affected the Americas,
Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Would you join the ship's crew?
l
The Big Idea
As trade routes developed
across the globe, European BUILDING BACKGROUND Europeans had many reasons for
explorers crossed the Atlantic exploring the world in the late 1400s. One was curiosity about
Ocean to the Americas. unknown lands-part of the adventurous spirit of the Renaissance.
Also, changes in trade and the economy encouraged merchants to
Key Terms and People take chances on overseas ventures.
capital, p. 73
joint-stock companies, p. 73
Christopher Columbus, p. 75
Ferdinand Magellan, p. 17
Economic Growth in Europe
Northwest Passage, p. 77 Europe's wealth and population grew steadily during the late Mid-
Columbian Exchange, p. 18 dle Ages. Then in the mid-1300s, Europe suffered a terrible blow
when a deadly disease called the Black Death swept through Europe.
Brought by merchants ships carrying infected rats from Central
Asia, the disease killed millions of people. Eventually Europe recov-
ered from the Black Death and the shortage of workers it created.
r;;J In the 1200s Europe had begun to experience the Commercial
lim 7.11.1 Know the great voy- Revolution, a great change in the European economy. During this
ages of discovery, the locations of time, the way people did business changed dramatically. Many cit-
the routes, and the influence of ies grew rich, often from specializing in certain crafts. For example,
cartography in the development of a
new European worldview. the Italian city of Florence became famous for dyeing cloth. Venice
7.11.2 Discuss the exchanges of
and many other cities also began dealing in rare goods brought
plants, animals, technology, culture, from faraway lands. In this way they became rich trading centers.
and ideas among Europe, Africa, Wealth became more important in European society. More
Asia, and the Americas in the fifteenth
and sixteenth centuries and the
than ever before, increasing one's wealth became the best way to
major economic and social effects gain greater status and power.
on each continent.

12 CHAPTER 1
 Merchant families in Europe wanted Trade with Africa and Asia
to get capital-money or property that ]
Much of the wealth of the Commercial Revo-
is used to earn more money. During the Many modern-
lution was made through trade. The greatest day banking
late 1300s the Medici (MEo-ee-chee) fam-
profits came from trading with distant con- practices devel-
ily of Florence opened banks that gave oped during
tinents such as Africa and Asia. From Africa
loans. The borrowers repaid these loans the Commercial
with extra money called interest, which came gold, ivory, salt, and slaves. Salt was used Revolution,
to preserve foods. From Asia came silk and including the
earned more money for the bankers. The bill of exchange.
Medici and other bankers gained influence spices. Skilled European tailors used silk Like a check, the
fabric to sew fancy clothing. Cooks used bill of exchange
in Europe.
Merchants also created joint-stock expensive spices to flavor food. allowed traders
to pay for goods
companies, or businesses in which a group Overland Trade on their routes
of people invest together. The investors without having
Goods usually traveled long overland routes to carry gold.
share in the companies' profits and losses. to reach Europe. The Silk Road, for example,
Forming joint-stock companies allowed stretched thousands of miles westward from
investors to share all profits and also all loss- China. These journeys were very dangerous
es. Therefore, a single investor would lose for traders because of harsh conditions and
less than he or she would as a sole owner of possible attacks from bandits. Still, many
a company. merchants risked the trip because they could
earn huge profits. Each merchant raised the
''"il"t'n~., .. _
, .• Analyzing How did economic price of the goods when selling to the next
growth in Europe in the 1200s and 1300s lead to trader. By the time the goods arrived in
changes in business? Europe, their prices had risen greatly.

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 13

 .
.. . ..
~ ....
'• .

D Christia,n world, c. 1200

D Islamic world, c. 1200
- Asian trade routes
- Italian trade routes
- Muslim trade routes
1. Movement According to the map, which traders
- Dias's route
had trade routes over the greatest area?
• • da Gama's route
2. Human-Environment Interaction What natural
500 1000 Miles
....._____. features did most sea routes follow?
0 500 1000 Kilometers

Search for New Routes learn more about Asia and spread Christian-
By 1400 many of the overland trade routes had ity. All of these factors encouraged Europe-
become less reliable. At the same time, ship ans to explore the Atlantic Ocean in search
designs had improved. European merchants of new trade routes to Asia and Mrica.
began to search for a sea route to Africa and
Asia. They wanted direct access to the goods Advances in Technology
in these regions to increase their profits. They New technology also led to exploration. Sailors
hoped to bypass merchants in Venice, who began to use tools such as the magnetic com-
had a monopoly on, or sole economic con- pass and the astrolabe. The astrolabe allowed
trol of, the Asian products that reached the navigators to learn their ship's location by
Mediterranean. Merchants elsewhere wanted charting the position of the stars. Better charts
to make their own money from the trade. and instruments let sailors travel the open
Meanwhile, many educated Europeans sea without landmarks to guide them.
had become interested in Asian cultures. Finding sea routes to Africa and Asia
Explorer Marco Polo's book about his travels meant crossing the Atlantic Ocean. However,
in Asia remained popular in Europe long after no one knew the actual size of the ocean.
his death in 1324. Many Europeans hoped to Some people claimed that more than 10,000

14 CHAPTER 1
miles separated Europe from the Indies-the Exploring the Americas
European name for Asia. Traveling such a
Stories of fabulous kingdoms and wealth
long distance seemed impossible.
in the Indies captured the imagination of
Christopher Columbus, a sailor from Genoa,
Portuguese Explorations
Italy. Columbus was convinced that he
Portugal became a leader in exploration in the
could reach Asia by sailing west across the
early 1400s. Prince Henry, known as the Navi-
Atlantic Ocean.
gator, greatly helped Portugal's efforts. Henry
gathered together the finest mapmakers, sail-
Christopher Columbus Sails West
ors, and shipbuilders. His designers developed
Columbus persuaded King Ferdinand and
the caravel, a small ship that moved quickly
Queen Isabella of Spain to pay for his expe-
and handled well. Henry also paid for expedi-
dition across the Atlantic. Some of their
tions to explore the west coast of Africa.
advisers were against the plan because they
In 1488 Portuguese navigator Bartolomeu
thought the globe was larger than Colum-
Dias led an expedition southward along the
bus said it was. For this reason, the king and
African coast. A storm blew the ships around
queen allowed Columbus to have only three
the southern tip of Africa. This point became
ships. They ordered him to bring back any
known as the Cape of Good Hope. Dias want-
items of value and to claim for Spain any
ed to continue the voyage, but his men did
lands he explored.
not. Supplies were also low, so Dias returned
On August 3, 1492, Columbus's three
to Portugal.
ships set sail. The Nifia and the Pinta were
King Manuel of Portugal sent another
caravels. Columbus sailed in the larger Santa
explorer, Vasco da Gama, on an expedition
Maria. The ships carried some 90 sailors and
around the Cape of Good Hope. Da Gama
a year's worth of supplies. They made a stop
left Lisbon in July 1497 and arrived in south-
in the Canary Islands and then resumed their
western India the next year. Two Muslim
journey on September 6. After more than a
traders greeted da Gama when he sailed into
month with no sight of land, the crew grew
the port of Calicut. They cried out in Por-
restless. "Here the people could stand it no
tuguese, "A lucky venture, a lucky venture!
longer, and complained of the long voyage,"
Plenty of rubies, plenty of emeralds! You owe
wrote Columbus in his journal. The crew
great thanks to God, for having brought you
threatened to rebel, so Columbus promised
to a country holding such riches!" One of
that if they did not find land soon, they
da Gama's crew members wrote, "We never
would return to Spain.
expected to hear our language spoken so far
Just a few days later, the crew saw signs
away from Portugal."
of land-birds and tree branches. Columbus
The Portuguese soon learned that the
promised a reward "to him who first sang
Indians had been trading with Muslim and
out that he saw land." On October 12, 1492,
Italian merchants for many years. Da Gama
a lookout cried, "Land! Land!," ending the
made two more trips back to India. He
33-day journey from the Canary Islands.
governed a small Portuguese colony there.
Columbus thought he had landed in Japan.
Portugal had won the European race for a sea
He believed he had circled the world and
route to the wealth of Asia.
found a western route to Asia. It would be
Finding Main Ideas some time before he realized that the royal
What was the most important result of da Gama's advisers had been right, and that the world
explorations? was bigger than he thought.

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 15

 New Spain, 1492- 1682
a Northwest Passage
150 300 Miles
_,______. led him to the bay that
--.
still bears his name.

Mississippi to its mouth

and claimed for France all
the land along the river
and its tributaries.

Caribbean
Spanish explorers boldly
pushed overland into
North America's interior.

16 CHAPTER 1
Two Cultures Meet
The ships landed on an island in the Bahamas.
Columbus called the island San Salvador, Christopher Columbus
1451-1506
which means "Holy Savior." Columbus also
Christopher Columbus began his career at
visited an island he called Hispaniola. There
sea at age 14, and he quickly became an
he met the Taino (TY-noh). He called these
experienced sailor: He eventually ran his
Native American people Indians because he own ships and explored islands off the
believed that he had landed in the Indies. western coast of Africa for Portugal. While
The Taino lived in small, peaceful farm- doing so, he learned much about sailing in
ing communities. In his journal, Columbus the Atlantic Ocean. But he could not know
wrote that the Taino were "so generous . . . just how large the ocean was. When he set
that no one would believe it who has not off with Spain's support to cross the Atlantic,
seen it." However, Columbus and his crew he and his crew sailed into the unknown. His
bold explorations changed the world forever:
were interested in discovering gold, not in
Taino culture. After two months of explor-
Summarizing What experiences helped
ing and collecting exotic plants and animals, Columbus prepare for the journey across
Columbus decided to return to Spain. the Atlantic?
In all, Columbus made three voyages to
the West Indies. In 1504 he returned to Spain
in poor health and out of favor with the
Spanish throne. In 1506 he died. It would be
years before Europeans realized the impact of five ships returned to Spain. Magellan had
Columbus's travels on their world. been killed during the expedition, and only
18 members of the original crew survived.
Other Explorers Set Sail These sailors were the first people to sail
In 1501 Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci completely around the world, a 40,000-mile
(vuh-sroo-chee) led a Spanish fleet to the journey. They had finally found the western
coast of present-day South America. A Ger- route to Asia.
man mapmaker, or cartographer, labeled
the continents across the ocean America in Search for a Northwest Passage
honor ofVespucci. Europeans began using the While Spain and Portugal were exploring
names North America and South America. Central and South America, other Europe-
In a new settlement in present-day an nations turned to North America. They
Panama, explorer Vasco Nufiez de Balboa hoped to find a Northwest Passage through Focus ON
(NOON-yays day bahl-BoH-uh) heard stories North America that would let ships sail from READING
Be sure to notice
from local Indians about another ocean. the Atlantic to the Pacific. that the high-
Balboa set out to find it. For weeks he and Jacques Cartier (kahr-TYAY), a French lighted definition
his men struggled through thick jungle and sailor, led a major exploration of North of a vocabulary
term is near the
deadly swamps. In 1513 they reached the America. He made two trips to present-day
boldfaced term
top of a mountain. From there Balboa saw Canada in 1534 and 1535. He sailed into the itself.
a great blue sea-the Pacific Ocean-stretch- St. Lawrence River and traveled all the way
ing as far as the eye could see. to present-day Montreal. Some 70 years later,
In 1519 a Portuguese captain, Ferdinand French sailor Samuel de Champlain explored
Magellan (muh-JEL-uhn), set out with a the St. Lawrence River and visited the Great
Spanish fleet to sail to Asia across the "South- Lakes, led by Indian guides. Champlain
ern Ocean." Three years later, only one of his founded a small colony on the St. Lawrence

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 17

 River that he named Quebec. His explora- Columbian Exchange
tions helped France claim much of Canada.
Explorers brought plants, animals, and dis-
The Dutch hired English captain Henry
eases to the "New World" of the Americas.
Hudson to enter the race to find a Northwest
They also brought back plants and animals to
Passage. Hudson first sailed to present-day
the "Old World"-Asia, Africa, and Europe.
New York in 1609. The following year, he
This transfer of plants, animals, and diseases
reached a strait that he hoped would lead to
became known as the Columbian Exchange
the Pacific Ocean. Instead, it led into a huge
because it resulted from Columbus's
bay, later named Hudson Bay.
explorations. The Columbian Exchange dra-
Neither Cartier, Champlain, nor Hudson
matically changed the world.
ever found a Northwest Passage. Their explo-
European explorers in North and South
rations, however, increased European interest
America found many plants and animals
in North America.
that were unlike any seen back home.
READING (HECK Finding Main Ideas Many of these plants, including corn, toma-
Why did European explorers seek a Northwest toes, potatoes, tobacco, and cocoa, proved
Passage, and how successful were their efforts? valuable.

·- l
(

ATLANTIC
OCEAN

•:

1. Movement What were some ofthe plants and

animals that Europeans brought home from the
New World?
2. Human-Environment Interaction What effects
might the introduction of new animal species
have on the environment?

18 CHAPTER 1
 Explorers introduced maize to Europe for No one knows exactly how many Indians
use as animal food. Many Europeans began died from European diseases, but the loss of
to cook with tomatoes, particularly in Medi- life was staggering. Hundreds of thousands of
terranean countries. In the late 1600s some American Indians are believed to have died
Europeans began to grow potatoes, which after catching these diseases. Spanish histori-
were from South America. Potatoes became an Fernandez de Oviedo wrote in 1548 about
a common food source for Europeans. Later, the destruction of the American Indians of
European settlers introduced potatoes to Hispaniola. Of the estimated 1 million Amer-
North America. Meanwhile, tobacco and ican Indians who had lived on the island in
cocoa became luxury items in Europe. 1492, "there are not now believed to be at the
Settlers and explorers also brought plants present time ... five hundred persons [left]."
and animals to the American continents. There is still debate about whether any
European horses, cattle, and pigs soon ran diseases traveled from the New World to
wild. American Indians came to use these the Old World. Although historians cannot
animals for transportation and to improve prove that any did, there was not a large pop-
their diet. They also started to farm European ulation decline in Europe, Asia, and Africa as
grains such as wheat and barley. These grains in the Americas.
grew well in cool climates. Europeans also
introduced rice from West Africa. =u:ww... •;"a: ·· Drawing Inferences How did
Without intending to do so, the explor- Europeans benefit from the Columbian Exchange?
ers also introduced deadly diseases. Measles,
smallpox, and typhus were common in
Europe. As a result, most adult Europeans had
developed immunity, or natural resistance, to SUPIPIARY AND PREVIEW In this section
them. American Indians, however, had never you learned about the European explo-
been exposed to such diseases. They had no ration that led to the discovery of the
immunity to them. Many Native Americans Americas. In the next section you'll read
became terribly sick after the first encounters about the Spanish exploration of North
with Europeans took place. and South America .

.1,
Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People 1.11.2 Critical Thinking
1. a. Describe How did joint-stock companies work? 5. Sequencing Using a chart like the one below,
b. Explain How did Europe's economy change? put the explorations in the section in the order in
2. a. Recall Why were Europeans eager to trade with which they occurred.
Africa and Asia?
Year Explorer Lands Explored
b. Evaluate Do you think trading with Asia and
Africa was worth the difficulty? Explain.
3. a. Identify List the European explorers who
journeyed to the Americas.
b. Analyze How was Europe affected by Christopher
Columbus's expedition to the West? 6. Taking Notes on Early Explorers Take notes on
4. a. Describe What was the Columbian Exchange? each of the explorers discussed in this section. What
b. Elaborate What item introduced to the Ameri- countries did they come from? Why did they come?
cas in the Columbian Exchange do you think was How did they interact with Native Americans?
most important? Why?

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 19

 If YOU were there ...
You live in Tenochtitlan, Mexico, in the early
1500s. You belong to a noble family who are
advisers to the Aztec king. One day, word
Main Ideas
1. Spanish armies explored comes of strangers who have arrived in
and conquered much of the Mexico by ship. These strangers are on their
Americas.
2. Spain used a variety of ways way to the city to meet with the king. Many
to govern its empire in the nobles think they are dangerous, but the king
Americas.
seems ready to greet them as friends.
l
The Big Idea Would you think the king should
Spain established an empire trust the newcomers'?
in the Americas.

Key Terms and People

conquistadors, p. 20
BUILDING BACKGROUND The voyages of the Age of Exploration
Hernan Cortes, p. 20
Moctezuma II, p. 20
opened up new lands to Europeans. The Spanish and Portuguese
Francisco Pizarro, p. 21 took the lead in exploring these new lands. For the Spanish, one
Junlpero Serra, p. 22 important goal was the gold and silver to be found in the Americas.
encomienda system, p. 22 Soon their armies conquered two great Native American empires.
Bartolome de Las Casas, p. 23
plantations, p. 23

The Spanish in the Americas

Spanish conquistadors (kahn-kees-tuh-DAWRS) were soldiers who
led military expeditions in the Americas. The governor of Cuba, a
Spanish colony, sent conquistador Hernan Cortes to present-day
Mexico in 1519. Cortes heard of a wealthy land to the west ruled
by a king named Moctezuma II (mawk-tay-soo-mah).

Conquest of the Aztec Empire

Moctezuma ruled the Aztec Empire. His capital, Tenochtitlan (tay-
nawch-teet-LAHN), was a large city with temples and buildings on an
island in the middle of a lake. The Aztec had thousands of warriors. In
contrast, Cortes had only 508 soldiers, around 100 sailors, 16 horses,
and some guns. Cortes hoped that his superior weapons would
~ bring him victory. Cortes also received help from an Indian woman
lim 7.7.3 Explain how and where named Malintzin (mah-Lrm-suhn) and enemies of the Aztec.
each empire aros.e and how the Aztec At first Moctezuma believed Cortes to be a god and welcomed
and In can empires were defeated by
the Spanish.
him. Cortes then took Moctezuma prisoner and seized control of

20 CHAPTER 1
 match the conquistadors' swords and guns.
The Spanish killed the Inca ruler, and by
1534 Pizarro and his American Indian allies
had conquered the Inca Empire. The second
great empire of the Americas had fallen.

Other Spanish Explorers

Many other Spanish explorers came to
Tenochtitlan. Later, however, while Cortes North America. In 1513, Juan Ponce de
was away, the Aztec drove the Spanish from Le6n searched present-day Florida in vain
their city. Moctezuma died during the fight- for a magical Fountain of Youth. Hernando
ing. Despite heavy losses, Cortes refused de Soto traveled through Florida and North
to accept defeat. He gathered thousands Carolina in 1539. The next year, Francis-
more allies and attacked Tenochtitlan again. co Vasquez de Coronado began exploring
When the fighting ended, the city lay in an area stretching from present-day New
ruins. Smallpox and other diseases brought Mexico to Kansas without finding the cities
by the Spanish quickened the fall of the of gold for which he was searching. In 1542,
Aztec Empire. Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (kah-BREE-yoh) sailed
1,200 miles along the coast of what is now
Pizarro's Conquest of the Inca California. Cabrillo failed to find wealth, but
Another conquistador, Francisco Pizarro his journey gave Spain a claim to the Pacific
(puh-ZAHR-oh), heard rumors of the Inca cit- coast of North America.
ies in the Andes of South America. The Inca
ruled over a large territory that stretched Contrasting How did the
from present-day Chile to Ecuador. But, expeditions of Cortes and Pizarro differ from those
like the Aztec, the Inca had no weapons to of other Spanish explorers in the Americas?

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SETTLEMENT 21

 Origins of Hispanics in
the United States
Today about 33 million people in the United States are of Puerto Rico
Hispanic origin. They account for more than 12 percent of the 9.0%
U.S. population-about 1 in 8 Americans. Hispanic Americans
trace their roots to various countries.
Central and
South America
14.5%

1. To what country do the largest percentage of Hispanic

Americans trace their roots?
2. According to the graph, what percentage of Hispanic
Americans trace their roots to Cuba and Puerto Rico?

Spanish Empire The Catholic Church played an important

part in ruling New Spain. The Spanish king
Spain's American colonies helped make it [ commanded priests to teach the local people
very wealthy. From 1503 to 1660, Spanish about Christianity. Some Native Americans
Roman Catholi- treasure fleets carried 200 tons of gold and
cism is still the
combined Spanish customs with their own.
most common ly
18,600 tons of silver from the former Aztec Others rejected Spanish ideas completely.
practiced religion and Inca empires to Spain. Mexico and Peru To connect some of the scattered com-
in Latin America. also grew food to help support Spain's grow-
More than 80
munities of New Spain, Spanish settlers built
ing empire. El Camino Real, or "the Royal Road." This
percent of
the population network of roads ran for hundreds of miles,
is Catholic. Ruling New Spain from Mexico City to Santa Fe. The roads later
Spain ruled its large American empire stretched to settlements in California.
through a system of royal officials. At the
top was the Council of the Indies, formed The Spanish in California
in 1524 to govern the Americas from Spain. California was one of the last borderland
The Council appointed two viceroys, or royal areas settled by the Spanish. In 1769 mission-
governors. The Viceroyalty of Peru governed ary Junipero Serra (hoo-NEE-pay-roh SER-rah)
most of South America. The Viceroyalty traveled to California to spread Christianity.
of New Spain governed Central America, Serra founded San Francisco and eight other
Mexico, and the southern part of what is missions along the Pacific coast. Most Span-
now the United States. ish settlers saw better opportunities in Mex-
ico and Peru, however. By 1790 fewer than
Life in Spanish America 1,000 Spaniards had settled in California.
The Spanish established three kinds of set-
tlements in New Spain. Pueblos served as Spain's Effect on Native Americans
trading posts and sometimes as centers of To reward settlers for their service to the
government. Priests started missions to con- Crown, Spain established the encomienda
vert local American Indians to Catholicism. (en-koh-mee-EN·duh) system. It gave settlers
The Spanish also built presidios, or military the right to tax local Native Americans
bases, to protect towns and missions. or to make them work. In exchange, these

22 CHAPTER 1
settlers were supposed to protect local Primary Source
American Indians and convert them to
Christianity. BOOK
Most Spanish treated the Indians like
slaves. They forced them to grow crops, to
Brief Account of the
work in mines, and to herd cattle. The work- Devastation of the Indies
ing conditions were hard, and many Ameri- Bartolome de Las Casas, a Catholic priest in New Spain,
can Indians died. Some settlers spoke out encouraged better treatment of American Indians.
against this poor treatment. Bartolome de I IWhen they [Spaniards) have slain all those who
Las Casas was a Spanish priest who defended fought for their lives or to escape the tortures they
American Indians' rights. would have to endure, that is to say, when they have
So many Native Americans died of slain all the native rulers and young men (since the
disease and exhaustion that, in 1501, the Spaniards usually spare only the women and children,
Spanish started bringing enslaved Africans who are subjected to the hardest and
bitterest servitude [slavery) ever suf-
to New Spain. Thousands of slaves worked
fered by man or beast), they enslave
on plantations, large farms that grew just
any survivors. With these infernal
one kind of crop and made huge profits for [devilish) methods of tyranny they de-
their owners. The African slave trade contin- base and weaken countless numbers
ued despite protests. of those pitiful Indian nations. II
-Bartolome de Las Casas,
=uJwwe··ar:l2 '- Analyzing How did the from BriefAccount of the
encomienda system strengthen Spanish rule? Devastation of the Indies

SUflfiARY AND PREVIEW In this section

you read about the Spanish exploration
of the Americas. In the next section you'll
learn about developments in Europe that
groups differ from the views of other Spaniards?
led to colonies in North America.

Section 3 Assessment
Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People lim 7.7.3
1. a. Identify Who was Moctezuma II? Spanish America
b. Analyze How was Cortes able to conquer the government
Aztec Empire? i

c. Predict How might Juan Cabrillo's explorations religion

affect later settlements in California?
labor
2. a. Summarize What types of settlements did the
Spanish create in New Spain?
b. Analyze How did the encomienda system
affect American Indians?
4. Taking Notes on the Spanish Empire
Critical Thinking Think about the section you just read. What can
3. Categorizing Using a chart like the one on the right, you tell Jacques' French family about the Aztec and
identify and describe the impact spain had on the the Spanish? Jot down some dates about people,
Americas. places, and events.

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 23

 If YOU were there ...
Main Ideas
The people of your village in France have always belonged to the
1. The Protestant Reformation led
to conflict in Europe in same church. But now, in the 1600s, your village is divided. You
the 1500s. and a few other families are a minority. You no longer feel safe.
2. Conflict between Spain and
England affected settlement Word comes that the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam in America
of North America. welcomes people of every religion. You would like to leave, but
3. European nations raced to
establish empires in North your parents are unwilling to leave their little farm.
America.
How would you persuade your family to emigrate?
f
The Big Idea
Other European nations chal- ~ - ~-·-.-

lenged Spain in the Americas. ~~

BUILDING BACKGROUND During the 1500s arguments over j
religion threw much of Europe into turmoil. In some places religious
conflicts and political rivalries led to long-lasting wars. At the same
Key Terms
time, several European nations were also competing for land and
Protestant Reformation, p. 25
Protestants, p. 25 influence overseas. Political and religious conflicts in Europe
printing press, p. 25 affected settlements in the Americas.
Spanish Armada, p. 25
inflation, p. 25
charter, p. 27
Protestant Reformation
On October 31, 1517, a priest named Martin Luther nailed an impor-
tant paper to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany.
The paper listed Ninety-five Theses, or viewpoints, about the Catho-
lic Church. Luther charged that the church was too wealthy. He also
thought the church abused its power.

~
(Im 7.11.1 Know the great voy-
ages of discovery, the locations of the
routes, and the influence of cartog-
raphy in the development of a new
European worldview.

24 CHAPTER 1
 Martin Luther became well known for Conflict between
protesting the policies of the Catholic Church.
His actions led to the Protestant Reformation. Spain and England
This religious movement began as an effort In the late 1500s King Philip II used Spain's
to reform the Catholic Church and spread great wealth to lead a Counter-Reforma-
through German towns in the 1520s and tion against the Protestant movement.
then to other parts of Europe. The reformers Standing in his way was English queen
became known as Protestants because they Elizabeth I and her sea dogs. Sea dogs were
protested the Catholic Church's practices. sailors who raided Spanish treasure ships.
Many Protestants believed that the Bible The most successful sea dog was the daring
intended religion to be simple. They disagreed Sir Francis Drake.
with many of the Catholic Church's rules. Philip was angered by English attacks and
They also thought the pope had too much began gathering the Spanish Armada, a huge
power. fleet of about 130 ships and some 27,000 sail-
The printing press -a machine that pro- ors and soldiers. The Spanish Armada was
duces printed copies-helped spread the launched to invade England and overthrow
ideas of the Reformation. Protestants printed Queen Elizabeth and the Anglican Church.
large numbers of Bibles as well as short essays In July 1588, however, the much smaller
explaining their ideas. This let more people read English fleet defeated the Armada in a huge
and think about the Bible on their own, rather battle.
than relying on the teachings of a priest. The Armada's defeat shocked the Span-
Conflict between Catholics and Protes- ish. In addition to the naval defeat, Spain's
tants took place throughout Europe, often economy was in trouble. The gold and
leading to civil war. During the late 1500s silver that Spain received from the Americas
French Catholics fought French Protestants, caused high inflation. Inflation is a rise
known as Huguenots (HYoo-guh-nahts). Many in the price of goods caused by an
Huguenots eventually emigrated to the Amer- increase in the amount of money in use.
icas in search of religious freedom. Economic problems, combined with
In 1534 King Henry VIII founded the England's defeat of the Spanish Armada,
Church of England, or the Anglican Church. led countries such as England, France,
By making himself the head of the church, and the Netherlands to challenge
Henry defied the authority of the pope and Spanish power overseas.
angered Catholics.
''Jlww•·•m"3''' Analyzing
READING CHECK Identifying Cause and Effect What led to the decline of the
What major religious change occurred in Europe, Spanish Empire?
and what effect did it have?
 \)'--..;-./..._..

~
~*~ s

o.r:5~

Disputed by Britain & Spain

250 500 Miles

,
~r:5~ / ~
ATLANTIC
OCEAN

1. Human-Environment Interaction
Which two empires occupied the most
territory in North America?
.•?0~..........-
2. Place How did geography affect the
location of most European settlements?

European Empires
In the late 1600s the French began spread- Starting in the early 1700s, the French
ing out from the St. Lawrence River. Calling built new outposts. These included Detroit
their North American territory New France, on the Great Lakes and Saint Louis and New
French fur traders, explorers, and missionar- Orleans along the Mississippi River. Most
ies were all on the move. towns in the French territory were small. By
In the 1650s French missionaries reported 1688 there were only about 12,000 French set-
stories about "a beautiful river, large, tlers in New France. Its small population and
broad, and deep." In 1673 explorer Louis the value of the fur trade led French settlers to
Jolliet (jahl-ee-ET) and missionary Jacques ally and trade with local American Indians.
Marquette set out to find this great river, Because of their close trading relationships,
the Mississippi. They reached it and traveled the French treated American Indians with more
down it as far as present-day Arkansas. respect than did some other European settlers.
Nine years later Rene-Robert de La Salle Many French settlers learned American Indian
followed the Mississippi River to the Gulf of languages and adopted their ways of life. In
Mexico. He claimed the Mississippi Valley for time, these close relationships would aid the
King Louis XIV of France. To honor the king, French in claiming large amounts of land in
La Salle named the region Louisiana. their North American empire.

26 CHAPTER 1
 New Netherland and New Sweden to get more supplies, but when he returned
The Dutch, who had merchant fleets around he found the colony's buildings deserted. No
the world, came to America in search of trade. one is certain what happened to the colony,
Explorer Henry Hudson's first voyage to though the name of a Native American group
North America gave the Dutch a claim to the was carved into a nearby tree.
land between the Delaware and Hudson riv-
= tJ 7nl""' •• • ; " , ,.
Drawing Conclusions
ers. He called it New Netherland. In 1624 the
Were the first colonies in North America success-
newly formed Dutch West ,India Company
ful? Why or why not?
sent about 30 families to settle in New Neth-
erland. Two years later Peter Minuit bought
Manhattan Island from local American Indi- SUrlriARY AND PREVIEW In this section
ans and founded the town of New Amster- you learned about events in Europe that
dam. To attract colonists, the Dutch practiced led to settlements in North America. In
religious toleration. the next chapter you will learn more about
Minuit also helped Swedish settlers found English colonies in North America.
New Sweden along the Delaware River.
Swedish settlers were among the first in
North America to build log cabins. Like the
Dutch and French, they traded with Native
Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People lim 1.11.1
1. a. Identify What was the Protestant Reformation?
Americans and trapped animals for fur. The
b. Explain What role did the printing press play in the
Swedish settlement was small, but the Dutch
Protestant Reformation?
felt that it threatened Dutch lands and fur 2. a. Explain Why did Spain try to invade England?
trading. The two sides fought a series of bat- b. Make Inferences How did the defeat of the Spanish
tles. Finally the governor of New Netherland, Armada affect European settlement of North America?
Peter Stuyvesant (sTY-vi-suhnt), conquered 3. a. Identify In which parts of North America did the
New Sweden in 1655. French settle?
b. Summarize What problems did the Dutch, Swedish,
English Settlement and English experience?
c. Evaluate Which of the European empires in North
In the late 1500s England decided to start
America do you think was most successful? Why?
its own American colony in order to estab-
lish a presence in the New World. Sir Wal- Critical Thinking
ter Raleigh received a charter, a document 4. Summarizing Using a diagram like the one below, list
giving permission to start a colony. He sent the European nations that established colonies in North
an expedition that landed in present-day America during the 1500s and 1600s. Include the location
of these colonies.
Virginia and North Carolina. Raleigh named
the entire area Virginia.
In 1585 Raleigh sent another group to
found a colony on Roanoke Island. The
English colonists found life hard. They fought
with local American Indians and had trouble
finding and growing food. In 1586, Sir Francis
Drake arrived and offered to take the remain-
ing settlers home to England.
5. Taking Notes on the French Empire and Other Settlements
John White resettled the Roanoke colony What would you include in Jacques' letter about the French,
in the spring of 1587. White's granddaughter, Dutch, Swedish, and English people who settled in America.
Virginia Dare, was the first English colonist born Why did they come? What did they want and need in their
in North America. White went back to England new home?

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 27

 I:IIIIIIII Students frame questions that can be
- answered by historical study and research.

Framing Historical Questions

you want to know. For example, if you wanted to
know more about trade and the voyages of explora-
One of the most valuable ways that people gain tion that are discussed in Chapter 1, "What were the
knowledge is by asking effective questions. An effec- voyages of exploration?" may not be a good ques-
. tive question is one that obtains the kind of infor- tion to ask. This question is too broad. Its answer
mation the person asking the question desires. The would not give you the information you want.
ability to frame, or construct, effective questions Asking "Why was trade the most important
is an important life skill as well as a key to gaining cause of the voyages of exploration?" would not be
a better understanding of history. Asking effective an effective question either. This question is biased
historical questions will aid you in studying history because it assumes trade was the main reason for the
and in conducting historical research. voyages, when that might not have been true. Good
historical investigation assumes nothing that is not
known to be fact. A more effective question, which
would get the information you want, is: "Were trade
and the voyages of exploration connected, and, if
Effective questions are specific, straight-forward, so, in what ways?". Do you see now why wording is
and directly related to the topic. When we do not so important in asking effective questions and why
obtain the information we want or need, often you should write out and review your questions
it is because we have asked the wrong questions. beforehand?
Asking effective questions is not as easy as it seems.
It requires thought and preparation. The following
guidelines will help you in framing effective ques-
tions about history and other topics as well.
Reread the information about Cortes and the Aztec
0 Determine exactly what you want to know.
on pages 20-21, then complete the activities below.
E) Decide what questions to ask and write them 1. Suppose you wanted to learn more about
down. Having written questions is very impor- Cortes's defeat of the Aztec. Decide whether each
tant. They will help guide your study or research of the following would be an effective question
and keep you focused on your topic and goal. to ask about this topic. Explain why or why not.
C) Review each of your questions to make sure it is a. What happened when the Aztec and the
specific, straight-forward, and directly related to Spanish met?
your topic. b. Why did other Indians betray the Aztec?
0 Rewrite any questions that are vague, too broad, c. What resources did Cortes have that helped
or biased. him conquer the Aztec?
Questions that are vague or too broad are likely 2. Frame five questions that would be effective in
to produce information not directly related to what helping you to learn more about this topic.

28 CHAPTER 1
 Sta a
Visual Use the visual summary below to help you review
Summary the main ideas of the chapter.

Effects ~
• Destruction of Native
American empires fltllll'.,
• Columbian Exchange
• Colonies in the Americas
• Slavery in the Americas

causes
• Competition between
nations
• Desire for wealth
• Spread of Christianity

Reviewing Vocabulary, Comprehension and

Terms, and People Critical Thinking
Complete each sentence by filling in the blank with the SECTION 1 (Pages 6-11) ~ 7.7.1
correct term or person. 6. a. Describe How did the first people migrate to
1. The first voyage to sail completely around the the Americas?
world was headed by _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . b. Compare and Contrast In what ways were
2. are people who survive by societies in North America similar to and different
eating animals that they have caught or plants from those in Mesoamerica and South America?
they have collected. c. Elaborate In which culture area of North
3. Sir Walter Raleigh founded the colony of Vir- America would you have preferred to live?
ginia after receiving a , or a grant to Why?
set up a colony, from the queen of England.
4. Large farms that specialize in growing one type
SECTION 2 (Pages 12-19) lim 7.11.1, 7.11.2
of crop for profit, or , were common 7. a. Recall Why was Columbus's discovery
in Spanish America. important?
5. One of the most important European explor- b. Analyze What factors led Europeans to begin
ers was , who was the first their voyages of exploration?
person to claim lands in the Americas for Spain. c. Evaluate In your opinion, did the Columbian
Exchange improve or worsen life in the Americas?
Explain your answer.

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 29

SECTION 3 (Pages 20-23) ~ 7.7.3
Readi~g Skills
8. a. Identify What territories in the Americas did
Understanding Specialized Vocabulary Use the Read-
Spain control?
ing Skills taught in this chapter to answer the question
b. Analyze What factors enabled the Spanish to about the reading selection below.
defeat the Aztecs and Incas?
c. Evaluate Why was the encomienda system Merchant families in Europe wanted to get
important to Spanish settlers? capital-money or property that is used to
earn more money. (p. 13)
SECTION 4 (Pages 24-27) ~ 7.11.1
9. a. Describe What were the results of the defeat
of the Spanish Armada? 14. What is the definition of the word capital
according to the sentence above?
b. Contrast How did French settlements in the
Americas differ from the English settlements?
c. Predict What problems might arise between
the different empires that_had established settle-
Social Studies Skills
ments in North America? Framing Historical Questions Use the Sodal Studies
Skills taught in this chapter to answer the question about
the reading selection below.
Reviewing Themes The Taino lived in small, peaceful farming
10. Geography How did changes in climate lead to communities. In his journal, Columbus wrote
migration to the Americas? that the Taino were "so generous ... that
11. Economics In what way were the voyages of no one would believe it who has not seen it."
exploration motivated by the wish for money? However, Columbus and his crew were
12. Religion What role did religion play in the interested in discovering gold, not in Taino
conflict between England and Spain? culture. (p. 17)

15. Which question is answered by the above passage?

Using the Internet a. What kind of clothing did the Taino wear?
13. Activity: Compare and Contrast What causes b. In what kind of towns did the Taino live?
large groups of people to migrate? Factors that c. Did Columbus and his crew discover gold?
influence why people migrate can be labeled d. Did Columbus and the Taino fight each other?
as "push" and "pull." Poor climate and lack of
resources was one of the things that "pushed"
Paleo-Indians to North America. This activity will
help you understand factors of migration. Enter
the activity keyword, then compare and contrast 16. Writing Your Letter First, review your notes and
push-pull factors involved in Paleo-Indian migra- decide how Jacques feels about all the different
tion with the factors influencing immigration groups of people who live in America. Remem-
to the United States today. Create an ber that he has Native American friends, but he
illustrated chart to display your also takes advantage of America's opportunities.
research. Then write a letter from Jacques to his family in
France. Tell his family about some of the people
Jacques has met in America, as well as some of
the interesting things that are happening. End
with a sentence about jacques's hopes and fears
for the future of the Americas and its people.
Standards ssess e

DIRECTIONS: Read each question and write the D How did the Reformation in Europe affect
letter of the best response. European settlement of the Americas?
A It caused Spain to abandon its New World
D 11
I came to get gold, not to till the soil like colonies.
a peasant. 11 8 It resulted in Protestants conquering Mexico.
C It created religious tensions in Europe that
Which person would have been most likely some people fled to America to escape.
to have made such a statement? D It led to freedom of worship in most European
A Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes colonies in the Americas.
8 Aztec ruler Moctezuma II
C French missionary Jacques Marquette Connecting with Past Learnings
D Spanish priest Bartolome de Las Casas
0 Indians in Spain's encomienda system in the
D Before the arrival of the first Europeans, the Americas were most similar to the
most advanced Native American societies A skilled European tailors who used silk fabric.
were located in what is now 8 serfs on manors in medieval Europe.
A California. C samurai who served masters in feudal Japan.
8 the eastern United States. D heretics persecuted by the Spanish Inquisition.
C the American Southwest.
D Mexico. D In Grade 7 you learned about inventions that
aided explorers. The compass, which helped
D All of the following established colonies in Europeans make the voyages that brought
North America except them into contact with Native American
A the Portuguese. peoples, was first developed
8 the Dutch. A in Italy during the Renaissance.

C the English . 8 by Islamic scholars in North Africa.

D the French. C by the Polish scientist Copernicus.

D in early China.
D Which of the following best illustrates
the process known as the Columbian
Exchange?
A Christopher Columbus sailed west to reach
Asia and encountered the Americas.
8 Corn and tomatoes were introduced to Europe
from America.
C Asian goods moved long distances along the
Silk Road to reach Europe.
D Advances in technology allowed sailors to
better naviga!e on the open seas.

EARLY EXPLORATION AND SffiLEMENT 31