• Established civilizations existed in North and South Americas prior to European Contact (pre-1492). There was a European invasion
  • Reasons for exploration: God, Gold, Glory
  • Columbian Exchange - Old World meets New World (exchange of food, plants, animals, ideas, etc.)
  • Encomienda System - Spanish "christianize" or enslave natives
  • Atlantic Slave System - Slaves from Africa brought to North America