European Exploration of Guyana

Flashcards covering the reasons for European Exploration of Guyana

What is El Dorado?

A myth about a hidden city of gold in South America that attracted European explorers to Guyana.

Who was the legendary figure behind the El Dorado myth?

An Amerindian chief who threw gold into a lake to appease the gods.

What stimulated European interest in the legend of El Dorado?

The promise of acquiring massive amounts of gold and wealth.

Besides gold, what other resources in Guyana attracted European powers?

Fertile lands, suitable climate, and potential for growing valuable crops.

Name some of the crops that Europeans wanted to propagate in Guyana.

Tobacco, coffee, cotton, and sugar cane.

Which European powers competed for land and wealth in Guyana during the Age of Exploration?

The Dutch, British, French, and Spanish.

What was a main goal of European powers during the Age of Exploration?

To claim as much land as possible to increase their power and wealth.

When did the Dutch first settle in Guyana?

In the early 1600s.

What was another major reason why Europeans came to Guyana, besides gold and land?

To establish trading relationships with the Amerindians.

What types of goods did the Europeans trade with the Amerindians?

Metal tools, mirrors, cloth, beads, knives, and firearms.

What types of goods did the Amerindians trade with the Europeans?

Cassava bread, tobacco, cotton, dyes, animals, and information about the land.

How did the relationship between Europeans and Amerindians change over time?

The relationship changed as Europeans took control of more land and displaced the Amerindians.