World History Unit 2

A major pre-Columbian civilization of the Yucatán Peninsula that reached its peak in the 9th century A.D. and produced temple-pyramids, had a sophisticated calendar system, and used hieroglyphic writing.

Central American empire that expanded greatly during the fifteenth century; their sun god required human sacrifice, they used hieroglyphics for record keeping, and were eventually conquered by the Spanish Empire.

The capitol of the Aztec Empire that is currently known as Mexico City.

The Aztec emperor that eventually surrendered to Hernan Cortes.

A Mesoamerican civilization in the Andes Mountains in South America that by the end of the 1400s was the largest empire in the Americas; they used the census, quipu, and terraces for farming; were eventually conquered by the Spanish empire.

An arrangement of knotted strings on a cord, used by the Inca to record numerical information.

Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico.

Spanish explorer who led the conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru.

Established a school for navigators and supported explorers during the Age of Exploration.

Portuguese explorer who in 1488 led the first expedition to sail around the southern tip of Africa from the Atlantic and sight the Indian Ocean.

He was a Portuguese explorer that led the first naval expedition from Europe to sail to India, opening an important commercial sea route.

An Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to China.

A mapmaker and explorer who said that America was a new continent, so America was named after him.

Spanish explorer who became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean in 1510 while exploring Panama.

Portuguese navigator who led the Spanish expedition that was the first to sail around the world.

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

A major dynasty that ruled China from the mid-fourteenth to the mid-seventeenth century; it was marked by a great expansion of Chinese commerce into East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia

The last imperial dynasty of China which was overthrown by revolutionaries; known for their extreme isolationism.

An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought.

An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Difference between how much a country imports and how much it exports.

Gave the Spanish royal permission to force Native Americans to work.

A settlement of people living in a new territory that is controlled by its parent nation.

French explorer who established a settlement on the site of modern Quebec.

Also known as the French and Indian War, it was a conflict fought between England and France for control over land and the fur trade.

Chinese admiral during the Ming Dynasty, he led great voyages that spread China's fame throughout Asia.

Small, fast ship used by the Spanish and Portuguese, which made exploration easier.

Spanish explorers with hopes of conquest in the New World.

Three-sided trade route among England, Africa, and the North American colonies; included the slave trade.

A voyage that brought enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to North America and the West Indies.