2.2: Time of Discoverers & Reformers

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Time of Discoverers and Reformers

Lesson 2.2

De tien tijdvakken

At the end of this lesson you need to be able to answer the following questions:

• Who Christopher Colombus was
• Name 2 different civilizations that lived in Mexico at the time of Cortés's conquest of Mexico
• Name 3 countries that colonized America

Columbus the Explorer

In 1451 one of the worlds most well known explorers was born in the Italian city of Genoa, his name? Christopher Colombus. Christopher Colombus would go on to become the worlds most well known explorers of all thime, leading Europe into a new age, an age of exploration and reformation. 

Where was Christopher Colombus Born?

1. Castile
2. Portugal
3. Italy
4. Spain

The discovery of a new world

Colombus discovered a new continent in 1492, no-one in Europe knew about this continent.

Colombus in fact, didn't even knew that he had just discovered a new continent, he taught he had reached India (that is why we still call the native Americans "indianen").

Colombus landed on the island of Hispaniola, which is the island in the Caribbean were modern day Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Birth of Colonialism

After the discovery of America all European countries began to make settlements on the continitent, these settlements were called colonies.

The French, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and Swedish all began to set up colonies in America.

But in this lesson we shall completely focus on the Spanish colonies.

Why did people at the time think that there was no continent west of Europe?

Which country never had colonies in America?

1. Sweden
2. The Netherlands
3. Denmark
4. Scotland

Spanish Colonies in America

Spain once had one of the biggest colonial empires the world had ever seen. This colonial empire started with the colonization of Hispaniola in the Caribbean. After that they set for Mexico.

There were 2 native groups in Mexico, Mayans and Aztecs.

The Spanish almost immediately tried to conquer these peoples. The Spanish general in command of this expedition was Hernán Cortés.

Which of these native groups was indigenous to Mexico

1. Sioux
2. Miami
3. Mayans
4. Inca

Spain Victorious

The Aztecs didn't stand a chance against the Spanish troops.

In fact the Aztecs had never seen a horse there were no horses in America before the Columbian exchange (the trade between Europe and America). The Aztecs still fought with spears and clubs, whilst the Spanish fought with muskets.

Mexico was conquered. Spain became very rich from the many gold mines in Mexico. 

Hispaniola

North America

Pacific Ocean

Aztecs

Atlantic Ocean

South America

Next Slide is a video about the rise and fall of the Spanish Empire. 

It is not mandatory (verplicht) you can watch it if you are interested or if you have difficulty with depicting the story I told about Spanish expansion :)

Summary

Write your own summary:

Write the things in the summary I told that you find difficult.

Also answer the questions in slide three and write them down in your summary.

Word Duty

• Colonization
• Native
• Musket
• Spices
• Columbian Exchange

Congratulations, you have finished the lesson!