Series of wars fought in the Middle Ages by Christians to conquer the
Holy land from the Muslims
• Crusades
European period of renewed interest in the sciences, art , and
literature.
• Renaissance
Began the movement to reform the Catholic Church
• Martin Luther
16th Century movement resulting in the separation of the Protestant churches
from the Roman Catholic Church.• Reformation
An explorer representing Spain who set out to find a new route to Asia in 1492 and marked the beginning of European
Colonization.• Christopher Columbus
Exchange of crops, plants, animals and diseases between
Europeans and Native Americans
• Colombian Exchange
Spanish explorers and soldiers who conquered Native American
empires.
• Conquistadors
Spanish explorer who conquered the Aztecs in Mexico
• Hernando Cortez
Searched for gold in the present-day southeastern U.S. and
discovered the Mississippi River.
• Hernando de Soto
Economic policy which favors exports over imports to increase a
nation’s gold reserves.
• Mercantilism
People who signed a contract to work for a certain length of time in
exchange for passage to the colonies.
• Indentured servants
Summary of factors leading to New World Exploration
• 1. The Crusades increased European desire for Asian spices and cloth
• 2. Europeans desired new trade routes to Indian and China
• 3. Navigation skills improved• 4. Methods of Warfare improved• 5. Leaders desired more land and power• 6. People were searching for religious
freedom.
Search warrants that gave customs officials the right to search anywhere
for illegal goods.
• Writs of assistance