6SS | Unit 7 | Overview

What was Christopher Columbus' original purpose in taking his voyage across the Atlantic in 1492?

• To find a safer/quicker trade route across the Atlantic Ocean to Asia.

• To access riches and resources rumored to be in the western Atlantic.

• To find an alternate sea-route to attack eastern European nations.

• To leave a legacy as the first explorer to circumnavigate the earth.

Why was Columbus' (accidental) discovery in 1492 such an important event in human history?

• It led to the discovery of many types of medicines vital in helping combat the Bubonic Plague in Europe.

• Columbus' discovery led to European nations finally gaining enough resources to conquer China.

• After this, the previously isolated western and eastern hemispheres were permanently connected.

• This discovery helped European Christians discover unknown Christian artifacts in the Americas.

During the "Age of Exploration" period. Which continents made up the "New World" and which continents made up the "Old World"?

• New World: Europe, Africa, Asia

  Old World: North America, South America, Australia (1600s)

• New World: North America, South America, Australia (1600s)

  Old World: Europe, Africa, Asia

• New World: Europe, South America, Australia (1600s)

  Old World: North America, Africa, Asia

• New World: South America, Africa, Australia (1600s)

  Old World: Europe, North America, Asia

After Columbus' discovery of the Americas "Columbian Exchange" began. Which of the following BEST describes the Columbian Exchange?

• The period between the 1600s and 1880s in which millions of Africans were taken from their lands and forced into slavery.

• A time in which Europeans from the Old World exchanged new goods for the Native Americans' skill as elite warriors.

• A time between 1860-1920 in which ideas were exchanged between the Old/New Worlds that led to rapid industrialization.

• The centuries-old swap of people, plants, animals, tools, religion, ideas, and disease between the Old and New Worlds.

Select ANY ~or~ ALL that were exchanged between the Old and New Worlds during the Columbian Exchange.

• Crops

• Animals

• Tools

• Culture

• Disease

Select the exchange below that had the GREATEST impact of the indigenous people of the Americas (Native Americans).

• Wheat

• Disease

• Horses

• Steel tools/weapons

Which peoples benefited MOST from the Colombian Exchange by acquiring new colonies, resources, wealth, and a boosted population.

• Native Americans

• Africans

• Asians

• Europeans

The following events in the passage below led directly to which major event/time period?

"The indigenous people of the Americas' (Native Americans) population was estimated at about 90 million people before Columbus' arrival in 1492. In the 100 years after first contact with the Europeans, native populations shrank by 80%. This was mostly due to diseases inadvertently transferred to them by the European explorers and colonists. Native Americans were not immune to new diseases like smallpox, the flu, and typhus, and thus rapidly died by the millions. Those that remained were quickly conquered. With their lands taken most were forced into slavery to work mining gold, metals, and farming cash-crops. Shortly after this, Catholic priests and missionaries began set up missions and churches on the conquered lands to spread Christianity. They offered freedom to natives that converted to Catholicism. Naturally, most natives quickly converted to escape enslavement. This caused a problem for the Europeans, as they had fewer and fewer slaves to work their plantations. They soon turned to another part of the world for a new source of slaves. Leading to an event that would change the Africa, Europe, and the Americas forever."

• The Triangular/African Slave Trade

• The Industrial Revolution

• The Revolutionary War

• The Cuban Revolution

The following characteristics describe...

• Time period: roughly 1600-1860
• Families separated often by age and gender.
• People chained together and packed shoulder to shoulder, as many and as tightly as possible on multiple ship decks.
• Humid, unsanitary conditions with no restrooms provided.
• Few opportunities to get up/stretch/walk.
• 1-2 months on-board.
• Enough food provided to simply maintain strength.

• A European colony in the New World.

• A slave ship during the Triangular Trade.

• A ship in Christopher Columbus' company.

• A disease-infected Native American village.

Who was the democratically elected president of Cuba from 1940-1958 that took control of the country as dictator and created a system of government that favored the rich and powerful and neglected the poor?

• Fidel Castro

• John F. Kennedy

• Vladimir Lenin

• Fulgencio Batista