Exploration and the Americas

The Olmecs

earliest Mesoamerican civilization, located near the Gulf of Mexico.

The Maya

civilization locate on the Yucatan peninsula, not an empire but several powerful city-states

The Aztecs

capital city of Tenochtitlan modern day Mexico City and built chinampas

Human Sacrifice

Aztecs

Hernan Cortes

defeated the Aztecs

chinampas

artificial islands made by the Aztecs to create more farmland

The Inca

Capital city of Cuzco and created a system of roads through the mountains that included a messenger system.

Reasons for Exploration

desire for god, gold and glory

astrolabe

helped determine the altitude of the sun or stars

caravel

fast new ship with multiple masts, used by the Portuguese

compass

allowed them to accurately determine which direction they were headed

Prince Henry the Navigator

set up a school in Portugal to teach explorers

Bartolomeu Dias

discovered the Cape of Good Hope (southern tip of Africa)

Vasco de Gama

first European to make it to India by water

Ferdinand Magellan

rounded the coast of South America, credited with being the first to circumnavigate the world

Christopher Columbus

credited with discovering the "New World " for Europeans

Columbian Exchange

Widespread trade of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, West Africa, and the Old World in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Treaty of Tordesillas

agreement between Spain in Portugal to settle conflict over lands newly discovered in the Americas

Encomienda System

created by the Spanish to control the Native Americans in the New world

Triangular Trade

trade between Europe, Africa and the Americas

Middle Passage

the journey of an enslaved person from Africa to the Americas, many died on this trip

Slash & Burning Farming

Farmers used this technique of farming to create more farmland.

Theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders

Chinampas

artificial islands built to create farmland