For their part, Native Americans introduced Europeans, Africans, and Asian to new foods, customs, and ideas. After 1492, elements of Native American ways of life gradually spread around the world. Sadly, disease also spread from the Americas to Europe and other parts of the world.
Native Americans introduced Europeans to valuable food crops such as corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beans, tomatoes, manioc, squash, peanuts, pineapples, and blueberries. Today, almost half the world’s food crops come from plants that were first grown in the Americas.
Europeans carried the new foods with them as they sailed around the world. Everywhere, people’s diets changed and populations increased. In South Asia, people used American hot peppers and chilis to spice stews. Chinese peasants began growing corn and sweet potatoes. Italians made sauces from tomatoes. People in West Africa grew manioc and corn.
Question
Use the excerpt to answer the question
Based on this excerpt from the text, what impact did the Native Americans ultimately have on the rest of the world?
(1 point)
Responses
Their food was in high demand and brought great wealth to the Americas.
Their food was in high demand and brought great wealth to the Americas.
Their exposure to European disease eventually caused a serious decline in the global population.
Their exposure to European disease eventually caused a serious decline in the global population.
Their crops allowed Europeans to take longer voyages in order to explore more distant lands.
Their crops allowed Europeans to take longer voyages in order to explore more distant lands.
Their crops influenced people's diets in many different regions around the world.
11 answers
—Library of Congress
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Inferring from this text, why might the Spanish have felt it important to train the natives of California for a “European colonial society”?
(1 point)
Responses
to make it easier to govern the Native Americans
to make it easier to govern the Native Americans
to prevent the Native Americans from leaving
to prevent the Native Americans from leaving
to make the Native Americans equals in all colonial societies
to make the Native Americans equals in all colonial societies
to spread European beliefs and language
(1 point)
Responses
They chose an unsecure location, making it easy for the Spanish to find them.
They chose an unsecure location, making it easy for the Spanish to find them.
They lacked knowledge about the land and how to use their environment to survive.
They lacked knowledge about the land and how to use their environment to survive.
They faced fierce trading competition from the French and Dutch.
They faced fierce trading competition from the French and Dutch.
All of the crops they grew had to be shipped back to King James in England.
All of the crops they grew had to be shipped back to King James in England.
—Library of Congress
Question
Use the passage to answer the question.
Based on your text and this reading, why was land near water so important for French settlers?
(1 point)
Responses
Settlers relied on water routes for transportation.
Settlers relied on water routes for transportation.
Settlers used water routes to hunt for food.
Settlers used water routes to hunt for food.
Settlers depended on water from rivers and lakes for their crops.
Settlers depended on water from rivers and lakes for their crops.
Settlers continued to look for a Northwest Passage across the continent.
Settlers continued to look for a Northwest Passage across the continent.
(1 point)
Responses
All relied on Native Americans for fur trading.
All relied on Native Americans for fur trading.
All respected their way of life and religious beliefs.
All respected their way of life and religious beliefs.
All established missions where Native Americans could live and work.
All established missions where Native Americans could live and work.
All believed they were superior to Native Americans.
All believed they were superior to Native Americans.
(1 point)
Responses
settlement and colonization of Florida under Spanish rule
settlement and colonization of Florida under Spanish rule
inspiration for other Europeans to begin explorations and settlement
inspiration for other Europeans to begin explorations and settlement
settlement and colonization in the Southwest under Spanish rule
settlement and colonization in the Southwest under Spanish rule
fighting between the Spanish and the French