Unit 2 - European Colonization of North America

Vocabulary flashcards created from the Unit 2 European Colonization of North America lecture notes.

Leif Eriksson

Viking explorer who reached North America around 1000 AD, landing on the Northern Canadian Coast.

Christopher Columbus

Explorer who attempted to reach Asia by sailing west across the Atlantic, making landfall at San Salvador and believing he had reached the East Indies.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer and exchange of crops, animals, food, and disease between the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

Line of Demarcation

An imaginary boundary establishing that Spain could claim all non-Christian lands to its west, while Portugal could claim all non-Christian lands to its east.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement that moved the Line of Demarcation 800 miles further west.

Conquistadors

Spanish conquerors who were encouraged to capture gold and silver from native rulers and give 1/5 of their treasure back to Spain.

Aztec Empire

A native empire located in present-day Mexico that was conquered by Spanish conquistadors.

Inca Empire

A native empire located along the Andes Mountains in South America that was conquered by Spanish conquistadors.

Pedro Menéndez de Avilés

Spanish officer sent to Florida to establish St. Augustine in order to drive the French out of La Florida.

Pueblo

A type of Spanish settlement in New Spain established as civilian towns for trade.