Early Exploration and Colonization of America

Flashcards covering key concepts and events related to early exploration and colonization in America.

What theory explains how the first people arrived in America?

The Land Bridge Theory (Bering Land Bridge).

What were the major early civilizations in Mesoamerica?

Olmec, Mayan, Aztec, and Inca.

What did Europeans seek from Asia during the Age of Exploration?

Silk and spices.

What products were native to America before the Spanish colonization?

Corn (maize) and squash.

What were the three main motivations for Spanish exploration?

God (spreading Catholicism), Gold (wealth), and Glory (territory expansion).

What was the Line of Demarcation?

A line drawn by Pope Alexander VI that divided lands between Portugal and Spain.

Who was Christopher Columbus?

A Spanish explorer who discovered the Americas in 1492 while seeking a route to India.

What is the Columbian Exchange?

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and cultures between the Old World and the New World following Columbus's voyages.

What was the triangle trade?

A trading route involving the Colonies, Europe, Africa, and the Indies.

Who led the Spanish forces in the New World?

Conquistadores.

What was the significance of the defeat of the Spanish Armada?

It allowed other countries to challenge Spanish claims in the New World.

Who was Sir Walter Raleigh?

The man who attempted to establish a colony at Roanoke Island, known for the mystery of the Lost Colony.

What crop helped Virginia's economy grow in Jamestown?

Tobacco.

Who was John Rolfe?

The first settler in Jamestown to grow and export tobacco; husband of Pocahontas.

What was the name of the French colony founded by Samuel de Champlain?

New France.

What were the Dutch and French primarily fighting over in North America?

Fur trading, known as the Beaver Wars.