Contact and Exploration

An Italian explorer from whose name the term America is derived. Amerigo Vespucci was the explorer whose voyages showed that the lands discovered by Columbus were part of a new continent.

The last Inca Emperor before the Spanish conquest. Atahualpa. He was the ruler of the Inca Empire when it was conquered by Spanish forces led by Francisco Pizarro.

A Spanish priest and writer who condemned the treatment of Indians in the Spanish empire. Bartolome de las Casas. He was a historic figure who advocated for the rights of Indigenous people in the Spanish colonies.

An Italian explorer, navigator and colonist who completed four voyages across the Atlantic. Christopher Columbus is known for discovering the Americas in 1492.

A territory under the complete political control and occupied by settlers of a state. Colony. A colony is a land controlled by a powerful country, where settlers live and exert influence over local people and resources.

The transfer of goods, culture and ideas between the Americas, West Africa and the Old World. Columbian Exchange. The Columbian Exchange refers to the widespread exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the New and Old Worlds following Columbus's voyages.

The knights, soldiers, and explorers of the Spanish and the Portuguese Empire. Conquistador. A conquistador was a Spanish or Portuguese explorer and soldier who helped conquer parts of the Americas.

The Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan and the last Aztec Emperor. Cuauhtemoc. Cuauhtemoc was the final leader of the Aztec Empire, known for resisting the Spanish conquest.

A Spanish labor system that rewarded conquerors with the labor of subject people. Encomienda. The encomienda was a system where Spanish colonizers were granted land and the right to extract forced labor from indigenous people.

A Spanish explorer who led a large expedition from what is now Mexico to Kansas. Francisco Coronado. Francisco Coronado was a Spanish explorer known for searching for the mythical Seven Cities of Gold in the 16th century.

A Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire. Francisco Pizarro. He was a Spanish explorer who led the expedition that defeated the Inca Empire and claimed its territory for Spain.

A missionary who was the first European in what is now the State of Arizona. Fray Marcos de Niza. Fray Marcos de Niza was a Spanish explorer who claimed to have seen the legendary Seven Cities of Gold in 1539.

A Spanish Conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire. Hernan Cortes. He was a Spanish explorer who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century.

The first king of Spain who sponsored the first voyage of Christopher Columbus was King Ferdinand. King Ferdinand was the monarch who helped start the Age of Exploration by supporting Columbus's journey to the New World.

A record of important events in the operation of a ship. Log. In history, a log is a detailed account kept by ships to record daily activities and navigational information.

A Nahua woman who played a key role in the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire. Malinche. Malinche was an indigenous interpreter and advisor for Hernn Corts during his conquest of Mexico.

A member of a religious group sent into an area to promote their faith is called a missionary. In history, missionaries traveled to spread their religion and often influenced local cultures and societies.

The Aztec emperor who was captured and imprisoned by Hernan Cortes. Moctezuma. Moctezuma was the ruler of the Aztec Empire during the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the early 16th century.

The first Queen of Spain who financed Christopher Columbus's first voyage. Queen Isabella. Queen Isabella was a powerful monarch who helped start European exploration by supporting Columbus in 1492.

A wealth that one party gives to another as a sign of respect, submission, or allegiance. Tribute. In history, tribute was a payment made by one nation or group to another, often to show loyalty or avoid conflict.

An African who led a colony of slaves in Mexico against Spanish colonials. Yanga. Yanga was a leader of a slave rebellion in Mexico that established one of the first free African settlements in the Americas.