Across
- 4. A strip of land that connected Asia and North America during the last Ice Age. It is how the first people likely reached the Americas.
- 6. Mound-building cultures in the Ohio River Valley. They built burial mounds and traded goods over long distances.
- 7. Eastern peoples who built large earthen mounds for burials and ceremonies. Later groups, like the city of Cahokia, grew big by farming corn.
- 8. A large language group of Native peoples across the Northeast and Atlantic coast. Many were the first to meet English colonists.
- 11. Conquered the Inca Empire in the 1530s after capturing their leader, Atahualpa.
- 13. A movement that began in 1517 when Martin Luther challenged the Catholic Church. It split Christianity and fueled rivalry between Catholic and Protestant countries.
- 14. Spanish priest who once held an encomienda, then spoke out against Spanish cruelty. He argued Native people had rights and deserved fair treatment.
- 17. Site of England's early colony off the coast of North Carolina. The settlers vanished by 1590, so it is known as the Lost Colony.
- 18. A country with a strong central government and a shared identity. Spain, Portugal, England, and France competed for wealth and power.
- 21. A crop first grown in Mesoamerica. It grew in many climates and fed growing populations, then spread to Europe, Africa, and Asia after contact.
- 22. Central Mexico empire with its capital at Tenochtitlan. Made other peoples pay tribute. Conquered by Cortes.
- 23. Southern Mexico and Central America civilization known for cities, a writing system, math, and a calendar.
- 24. Spanish colonists were given the right to Native labor and tribute. In return they were supposed to protect and convert Native people. In practice it was harsh forced labor.
- 25. A Native language group found mostly on the Plains and in parts of the Midwest and Southeast. The Lakota speak a Siouan language.
- 27. Smallpox, measles, and flu came with Europeans. Native peoples had no immunity, so millions died and conquest got easier.
- 28. Long bark-covered homes where several related Iroquois families lived together.
- 29. A league of Native nations in what is now New York, united under the Great Law of Peace. It was a major political and military power in the fur trade.
- 31. A machine from the 1400s that printed books fast and cheap. It spread news, maps, and ideas about exploration.
Down
- 1. Portuguese prince who sponsored voyages down the west coast of Africa in the 1400s. He set Portugal up as an early leader in exploration.
- 2. A 1494 deal where Spain and Portugal split newly claimed lands with a line on the map. Spain got most of the Americas and Portugal got Brazil.
- 3. Conquered the Aztec Empire from 1519 to 1521. He used Native allies who hated the Aztecs, plus the spread of disease.
- 5. A system where people are treated as property and forced to work. Spain used Native labor first, then more and more African labor.
- 9. Italian sailor who sailed for Spain and reached the Caribbean in 1492 while looking for a route to Asia. His voyages started lasting contact between Europe and the Americas.
- 10. Brought over by the Spanish. Plains peoples used them to change how they hunted, traveled, traded, and fought.
- 12. Rulers who united Spain and finished driving the Muslim kingdoms out in 1492. They paid for Columbus's voyage.
- 15. The forced shipment of millions of Africans across the Atlantic to work in the Americas. Portugal started it and other European countries joined.
- 16. Andes empire in South America ruled from Cuzco. Known for roads and terrace farming. Conquered by Pizarro.
- 19. Spanish contracts that let merchants bring enslaved Africans into Spain's colonies.
- 20. Plains people who became mounted bison hunters after getting horses from the Spanish.
- 26. Spanish soldier-explorers who conquered Native empires looking for gold, glory, and to spread Christianity.
- 30. A tool that shows direction. It let sailors travel the open ocean without staying near land.