Overview
Key People
● Christopher Columbus: An Italian explorer whose voyages led to the European
awareness of the American continents.
● Amerigo Vespucci: An explorer who demonstrated that Brazil and the West
Indies were not part of Asia, leading to the naming of America in his honor.
● Ferdinand and Isabella: The Catholic Monarchs of Spain who sponsored
Columbus's voyages and played a crucial role in the Spanish conquests.
Key Events
● Spanish Conquests in the Americas: Marked by superior military technology, the
transmission of diseases, and rigid central control, leading to the establishment
of New Spain.
● The Spanish Armada (1588): A failed naval invasion by Spain against England
that marked the decline of Spanish dominance and the rise of English naval
power.
Key Dates
● 1492: Columbus's first voyage to the Americas, marking the beginning of
European exploration and colonization.
● 1494: The signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which adjusted the Line of
Demarcation.
● 1587: The establishment of the Roanoke Colony, which ultimately failed.
Key Concepts + Terms
● Line of Demarcation: A boundary established by the Pope in 1493 to divide the
newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, favoring Spain.
● Treaty of Tordesillas: A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal that altered
the Line of Demarcation, allowing for more equitable distribution of newly
discovered lands.
● Encomienda System: A labor system that granted Spanish colonists the right to
demand tribute and forced labor from indigenous people in exchange for
protection and Christianization.
Key People
● Christopher Columbus: An Italian explorer whose voyages led to the European
awareness of the American continents.
● Amerigo Vespucci: An explorer who demonstrated that Brazil and the West
Indies were not part of Asia, leading to the naming of America in his honor.
● Ferdinand and Isabella: The Catholic Monarchs of Spain who sponsored
Columbus's voyages and played a crucial role in the Spanish conquests.
Key Events
● Spanish Conquests in the Americas: Marked by superior military technology, the
transmission of diseases, and rigid central control, leading to the establishment
of New Spain.
● The Spanish Armada (1588): A failed naval invasion by Spain against England
that marked the decline of Spanish dominance and the rise of English naval
power.
Key Dates
● 1492: Columbus's first voyage to the Americas, marking the beginning of
European exploration and colonization.
● 1494: The signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas, which adjusted the Line of
Demarcation.
● 1587: The establishment of the Roanoke Colony, which ultimately failed.
Key Concepts + Terms
● Line of Demarcation: A boundary established by the Pope in 1493 to divide the
newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, favoring Spain.
● Treaty of Tordesillas: A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal that altered
the Line of Demarcation, allowing for more equitable distribution of newly
discovered lands.
● Encomienda System: A labor system that granted Spanish colonists the right to
demand tribute and forced labor from indigenous people in exchange for
protection and Christianization.
