Year 8 - History
European arrivals in the Americas
European conquest of the Americas: why was its impact so devastating?
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Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn about the Americas before the arrival of Europeans before examining the impact of their early settlement and colonisation, with a particular focus on England's first successful American colonies.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain how the Europeans came to arrive in North America.
Key Notes
- During the Renaissance, European thinkers began to learn more about navigating the globe.
- Christopher Columbus was able to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and land in the Americas in 1492.
- First European involvement in the Americas was for trade and exploration.
- Europeans called the Americas the 'New World'.
- Europeans began to claim land in the 'New World' for themselves.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Renaissance: the Renaissance was a period of new thinking and ideas in Europe inspired by Ancient Rome and Greece
- empire: an empire is a group of countries or provinces ruled from the centre by a person or group of people
- Native American: Native Americans are members of any of the peoples who were the original inhabitants of North and South America and the Caribbean Islands
- colony: a colony is a country or area under the control of another country and occupied by settlers from that country
- settlement: settlement is the process of establishing new communities in an area
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils think that America was 'discovered' by Europeans or that it was a 'new' place.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
During the Renaissance, European thinkers began to learn more about navigating the globe. Christopher Columbus was able to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and land in the Americas in 1492.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Renaissance'
the Renaissance was a period of new thinking and ideas in Europe inspired by Ancient Rome and Greece.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils think that America was 'discovered' by Europeans or that it was a 'new' place. Correction: Remind pupils that there were long-established communities in the Americas before European arrival - they did not need to be discovered.
More Lessons In This Unit
Browse all guides in the Year 8 History guide library.