| The Spanish in North America |
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| Student Handouts > World History > Columbian Exchange > Columbian Exchange Worksheets |
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1. Analyze the origin of the term Indian. The term Indian originated when Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas in 1492 and mistakenly believed he had reached the Indies (Asia). As a result, he called the Indigenous peoples he encountered Indians. The term was based on this geographical error and has since been widely used, though it inaccurately groups diverse Native American cultures under a single label rooted in European misunderstanding. 2. Summarize the Treaty of Tordesillas. The Treaty of Tordesillas, signed in 1494 between Spain and Portugal, divided newly discovered lands outside Europe along a meridian 370 leagues west of the Cape Verde Islands. Spain received rights to lands west of the line (including most of the Americas), while Portugal gained control of lands to the east (including Brazil and parts of Africa and Asia). The treaty aimed to prevent conflict over exploration and colonization. 3. Illustrate the Columbian Exchange. 4. Explain the conquest of Mexico by Hernándo Cortés. Hernándo Cortés led the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire from 1519 to 1521. With a small force, he formed alliances with Indigenous enemies of the Aztecs and used superior weapons and tactics. The capture of Emperor Montezuma and the devastating impact of European diseases weakened the Aztecs. Ultimately, Cortés seized Tenochtitlán, marking the fall of the empire and the beginning of Spanish rule in Mexico. 5. Describe the Spanish missions built in what is now the southwestern United States. Spanish missions in the southwestern United States, built during the 17th and 18th centuries, aimed to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity and integrate them into Spanish colonial society. These missions, often run by Catholic friars, included churches, schools, and farms. While they introduced European agriculture and religion, they also disrupted Native cultures and lifestyles. Many missions became the foundation for modern cities like San Antonio and Los Angeles. Click here to print (PDF). Answers will vary. |
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| Student Handouts > World History > Columbian Exchange > Columbian Exchange Worksheets |
