Study Questions
1. Why do we say that Columbus discovered America when there were already one hundred million people here?
2. Describe the religious customs of the Mayas, Aztecs, Timuquans, Natchez, and Spaniards as noted in the essay. In what ways were the various customs similar? In what ways were they different?
3. Describe the principal political, economic, and social characteristics of the four Native American groups described in this chapter.
4. What do the Aztec poems indicate about Aztec values?
5. In what ways were the civilizations of America equal to those of Europe in 1492? In what areas were they more advanced? Less advanced?
6. Describe the important elements of the Columbian exchange. In what ways did Native Americans shape the environment—for better and for worse—before the arrival of Columbus?
2. Describe the religious customs of the Mayas, Aztecs, Timuquans, Natchez, and Spaniards as noted in the essay. In what ways were the various customs similar? In what ways were they different?
3. Describe the principal political, economic, and social characteristics of the four Native American groups described in this chapter.
4. What do the Aztec poems indicate about Aztec values?
5. In what ways were the civilizations of America equal to those of Europe in 1492? In what areas were they more advanced? Less advanced?
6. Describe the important elements of the Columbian exchange. In what ways did Native Americans shape the environment—for better and for worse—before the arrival of Columbus?