US History CLEP

By the 1490s, what was Europe experiencing that drove the Age of Exploration?

A growing curiosity about the world, along with a desire for new technologies like maps and navigation tools

Which four European "superpower" countries competed in exploration?

Spain, England, France, and Portugal

What were European explorers primarily searching for?

Glory, gold, and silver

What resources were explorers seeking in Asia?

Silks and spices

What religious dynamic was tied to exploration?

The spread of Catholicism, along with tension from the push toward Protestantism

Who did Columbus impress with his voyages, and with what?

Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, mainly by bringing back gold and resources

Why did Spain fear Portugal's interference in exploration?

Portugal faced the Atlantic, was active in overseas exploration, and had a stronger army and navy

What treaty resolved the land dispute between Spain and Portugal, and when was it signed?

The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494

What major territory did the Treaty of Tordesillas give to Portugal?

Brazil

What areas did the treaty open up for Spain to explore?

The larger part of South America, the Caribbean, and north America

Where did Spanish conquistadors mostly work in the early exploration period?

Th Caribbean islands

What devastating consequences did European conquistadors bring to indigenous populations?

Diseases that killed and devastated Indian populations who had no immunity to them

Who became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean, and when/where?

Vancouver Nunez de Balboa, in 1513 from panama

Who explored Florida fir Spain?

Juan Ponce De Leon

What did Ponce De Leon do after not finding riches in Florida?

He claimed the land for Spain anyway

Who led and expedition through the southeastern United States from 1539-1541, and what did he see?

Hernan do de Soto, he saw territory from Oklahoma to the Mississippi river

Who explored from Mexico through the Rio Grande into modern day southwest in 1540-1542

Francisco Vazquez de Coronado

Which present day states did Coronado’s expetition pass through?

New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas

Did de solos and cornado’s expetions find the rich Indian civilizations they sought?

No, but they expanded European knowledge of north americas interior and asserted spain’s territorial claims