1.1 Contextualizing Period 1

How did Columbus’s first voyage in 1492 impact world history?

• It initiated lasting contact between people on opposite sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

• It led to the immediate founding of Jamestown.

• It resulted in the end of Native American cultures.

• It stopped European exploration of the Americas.

Which of the following best explains why cultures in the Americas varied greatly before European arrival?

• Differences in geography and climate led to the development of distinctive cultural traits.

• All groups followed the same agricultural practices.

• There was no interaction between different groups.

• Europeans had already influenced the cultures.

What was a major result of European exploration and settlement in the Americas?

• Profound changes in how people on every continent lived.

• The immediate unification of all Native American tribes.

• The end of all European conflicts.

• The isolation of the Americas from the rest of the world.

What was the significance of the founding of Jamestown in 1607?

• It marked the beginning of the framework of a new nation.

• It was the first Spanish settlement in the Americas.

• It ended all conflicts with Native Americans.

• It was the last English settlement in the Americas.

How did people in forested regions of the Americas prepare land for agriculture?

• They used fire to clear land.

• They built large dams.

• They imported soil from other regions.

• They relied only on rainfall.

What is the Columbian Exchange?

• The transatlantic trade in animals, plants, and germs between Europe and the Americas.

• A treaty between European nations.

• A system of government in the Americas.

• A method of navigation used by Columbus.

Which European nations were among the first to explore the Americas?

• Spanish and Portuguese.

• German and Italian.

• Russian and Chinese.

• Swedish and Norwegian.

What is one example of how Native Americans transformed their environments?

• Creating irrigation systems in dry regions.

• Building skyscrapers in cities.

• Importing crops from Europe.

• Mining gold and silver exclusively.

Which of the following best describes the United States according to the text?

• A synthesis of people from around the world.

• A country with only one culture.

• A nation founded only by Europeans.

• A land untouched by outside influences.

What was a turning point in world history initiated by Columbus’s first voyage?

• Lasting contact between people on opposite sides of the Atlantic.

• The end of all European exploration.

• The discovery of gold in Asia.

• The unification of all Native American tribes.