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Study Guide: The Historical and Cultural Significance of the 'New World' Term

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The Historical and Cultural Significance of the 'New World' Term Study Guide

The Term 'New World': Origin and European Perspective

The term "New World" is predominantly employed from a European viewpoint to denote territories within the Western Hemisphere.

Answer: True

Explanation: The designation "New World" primarily reflects a European perspective, referring to the lands of the Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, as understood during the era of exploration and colonization.

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The term "New World" gained currency in the late 15th century, immediately following Christopher Columbus's initial transatlantic voyage.

Answer: False

Explanation: While Columbus's voyages began in the late 15th century, the term "New World" gained widespread usage and conceptual clarity in the early 16th century, particularly following Amerigo Vespucci's influential writings.

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Amerigo Vespucci's influential pamphlet, *Mundus Novus*, contended that the newly discovered lands constituted a continent separate from Asia.

Answer: True

Explanation: Contrary to the belief that the lands were part of Asia, Amerigo Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* argued that they were an entirely new continent, thereby establishing the concept of a "New World."

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Amerigo Vespucci's realization prompted European geographers to revise their understanding, moving beyond the belief that the world comprised solely Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Answer: True

Explanation: Vespucci's articulation of a "New World" expanded the known geographical scope for European scholars, challenging the long-held view that the world consisted only of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

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Amerigo Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter, disseminated around 1503-04, was the inaugural publication proposing that the Americas constituted part of Asia.

Answer: False

Explanation: The *Mundus Novus* letter, published circa 1503-04, was significant for articulating the hypothesis that the Americas were a distinct continent, not part of Asia. It was a widely circulated work that contributed to this new geographical understanding.

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Amerigo Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter was disregarded by Europeans, exerting minimal influence on geographical comprehension.

Answer: False

Explanation: Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter was not ignored; rather, it became a publishing sensation, widely reprinted and disseminated across Europe, significantly impacting geographical understanding by articulating the Americas as a separate continent.

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Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter was the first widely published work articulating the Americas as a separate continent.

Answer: True

Explanation: Amerigo Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter achieved widespread publication and was instrumental in articulating the concept of the Americas as a distinct continent, separate from Asia.

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The term "New World" emerged in the early 16th century, associated with European exploration and colonization.

Answer: True

Explanation: The term "New World" gained prominence in the early 16th century, intrinsically linked to the period of European exploration and the subsequent colonization of the Americas.

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What is the primary perspective associated with the term "New World"?

Answer: Eurocentric perspective

Explanation: The term "New World" is primarily associated with a European perspective, reflecting the viewpoint of explorers and colonizers who encountered these lands.

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During which historical period did the term "New World" emerge?

Answer: Early 16th century, during Europe's period of colonization

Explanation: The term "New World" emerged and gained prominence in the early 16th century, coinciding with the period of extensive European exploration and colonization.

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Who is credited with popularizing the term "New World" through a specific publication?

Answer: Amerigo Vespucci

Explanation: Amerigo Vespucci is widely credited with popularizing the term "New World" through his influential pamphlet *Mundus Novus*.

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What was the central argument presented in Amerigo Vespucci's *Mundus Novus*?

Answer: The newly discovered lands were entirely new continents, not part of Asia.

Explanation: The central argument of Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* was that the lands discovered were not part of Asia but constituted entirely new continents, thus forming a "New World."

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What was the significance of Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter published around 1503-04?

Answer: It contained the first explicit articulation in print that the Americas were a separate continent.

Explanation: Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter, published around 1503-04, was significant for being the first widely circulated publication to explicitly propose that the Americas were a distinct continent.

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How was Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* received in Europe?

Answer: It became a publishing sensation and was widely reprinted.

Explanation: Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter was a significant publishing success, being widely reprinted and disseminated throughout Europe, which greatly contributed to the spread of the "New World" concept.

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What was the impact of Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter on European geographical knowledge?

Answer: It expanded European geographical understanding by presenting the Americas as a separate continent.

Explanation: Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter significantly impacted European geographical knowledge by presenting the Americas as a distinct continent, thereby expanding the known world.

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What did Vespucci's realization about the Americas expand for European geographers?

Answer: Their geographical horizon beyond the previously known continents.

Explanation: Vespucci's realization that the Americas were a "New World" significantly expanded the geographical horizons of European geographers, challenging their previous conception of the world's composition.

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What was the initial geographical scope attributed to the "New World" term within Amerigo Vespucci's *Mundus Novus*?

Answer: Only the continent of South America.

Explanation: In Amerigo Vespucci's *Mundus Novus*, the "New World" designation was initially applied specifically to the continental landmass of South America.

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Early Explorers and the Shifting Geographical Paradigm

Christopher Columbus is recognized for popularizing the term "New World" through his published accounts.

Answer: False

Explanation: Christopher Columbus consistently maintained that the lands he reached were the eastern edges of Asia, often referring to them as "the Indies." The popularization of the term "New World" is primarily attributed to Amerigo Vespucci's writings.

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Alvise Cadamosto employed the phrase "another world" in his mid-15th-century writings to refer to the Americas.

Answer: False

Explanation: Alvise Cadamosto, a Venetian explorer, used the phrase "un altro mondo" (another world) to describe sub-Saharan Africa, not the Americas, in the mid-15th century. This usage predates the popularization of the "New World" concept for the Americas.

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Peter Martyr d'Anghiera utilized phrases such as "new hemisphere" in his accounts commencing in 1493, preceding Amerigo Vespucci's widespread use of the term "New World."

Answer: True

Explanation: Peter Martyr d'Anghiera's early writings, beginning in 1493, employed terms like "new hemisphere" and "western antipodes," predating the popularization of the "New World" concept by Amerigo Vespucci.

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Christopher Columbus consistently maintained, until his death in 1506, that the lands he discovered constituted part of the Asian continent.

Answer: True

Explanation: Christopher Columbus remained convinced until his passing in 1506 that his voyages had reached the eastern shores of Asia, commonly referred to as "the Indies."

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As documented in his *Mundus Novus* letter, Amerigo Vespucci reported his realization of being in a "New World" on August 17, 1501, while situated in Brazil.

Answer: True

Explanation: Amerigo Vespucci's *Mundus Novus* letter indicates that he identified the lands as a "New World" on August 17, 1501, during his expedition to Brazil.

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Amerigo Vespucci characterized the "New World" continent as being less populous and less temperate compared to Europe, Asia, or Africa.

Answer: False

Explanation: In his *Mundus Novus* letter, Vespucci described the continent as being more populous and temperate than Europe, Asia, or Africa, contrary to the assertion that it was less so.

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Vasco Núñez de Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513.

Answer: True

Explanation: Vasco Núñez de Balboa is credited with the discovery of the Pacific Ocean in 1513 during his exploration of the Isthmus of Panama.

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Ferdinand Magellan's voyage confirmed that the Americas were connected to Asia by a land bridge.

Answer: False

Explanation: Ferdinand Magellan's circumnavigation (1519-1522) confirmed the existence of the vast Pacific Ocean, definitively separating the Americas from Asia, rather than confirming a land bridge.

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The discovery of the Bering Straits in the early 18th century proved that Asia and North America were physically connected.

Answer: False

Explanation: The discovery of the Bering Straits in the early 18th century confirmed that Asia and North America were not physically connected by a land bridge, but rather separated by a strait.

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In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazzano employed the term "New World" to characterize his explorations along the Atlantic coastline of North America.

Answer: True

Explanation: Giovanni da Verrazzano's 1524 account of his voyage along the Atlantic coast of North America utilized the term "New World" to describe the newly encountered territories.

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Giovanni da Verrazzano's 1524 narrative applied the designation "New World" to the coastlines of Asia.

Answer: False

Explanation: Giovanni da Verrazzano's 1524 account referred to the Atlantic coast of North America as the "New World," not the coastlines of Asia.

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Alvise Cadamosto's use of "another world" for sub-Saharan Africa is considered the origin of the "New World" concept.

Answer: False

Explanation: While Alvise Cadamosto used the phrase "another world" for sub-Saharan Africa, this was a literary description and not the origin of the "New World" concept as applied to the Americas, which is primarily attributed to Amerigo Vespucci.

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Peter Martyr d'Anghiera's writings predated Vespucci's popularization of the "New World" concept.

Answer: True

Explanation: Peter Martyr d'Anghiera's early accounts, beginning in 1493, used terms that predated Amerigo Vespucci's widely disseminated writings which popularized the "New World" concept.

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Which explorer used the phrase "un altro mondo" (another world) to describe sub-Saharan Africa in the mid-15th century?

Answer: Alvise Cadamosto

Explanation: The Venetian explorer Alvise Cadamosto used the phrase "un altro mondo" (another world) to describe sub-Saharan Africa in his mid-15th-century writings.

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What did Peter Martyr d'Anghiera use terms like in his early writings about the newly discovered lands?

Answer: New hemisphere of the earth

Explanation: Peter Martyr d'Anghiera used terms such as "new hemisphere of the earth" and "western antipodes" in his early writings about the newly discovered lands.

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Until his death in 1506, what did Christopher Columbus persistently believe about the lands he discovered?

Answer: They were the eastern edges of Asia, often called 'the Indies'.

Explanation: Christopher Columbus maintained until his death in 1506 that the lands he reached were the eastern parts of Asia, commonly known as 'the Indies'.

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How did Vespucci describe the characteristics of this "New World" in his letter?

Answer: More populous and temperate than known Old World regions

Explanation: In his *Mundus Novus* letter, Vespucci described the "New World" continent as being more populous and temperate than the known regions of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

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Who discovered the western coast of the New World and the Pacific Ocean in 1513?

Answer: Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Explanation: Vasco Núñez de Balboa discovered the western coast of the New World and sighted the Pacific Ocean in 1513.

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What did Ferdinand Magellan's voyage (1519-1522) determine about the Pacific Ocean?

Answer: It was a single, large body of water separating Asia from the Americas.

Explanation: Ferdinand Magellan's voyage established that the Pacific Ocean was a vast, single body of water that definitively separated the Americas from Asia.

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What did the Spanish monarchs' *Junta de Navegantes* conferences establish as a new objective for Spanish explorers?

Answer: To find a sea passage through the Americas to Asia.

Explanation: The *Junta de Navegantes* conferences convened by the Spanish monarchs established a new objective for explorers: to locate a sea passage through the Americas to reach Asia.

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What did the discovery of the Bering Straits in the early 18th century confirm?

Answer: Asia and North America were not physically connected.

Explanation: The discovery of the Bering Straits in the early 18th century confirmed that Asia and North America were not physically connected by a land bridge.

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What term did Giovanni da Verrazzano use in 1524 to describe his findings along the Atlantic coast of North America?

Answer: New World

Explanation: In 1524, Giovanni da Verrazzano used the term "New World" in his account of exploring the Atlantic coast of North America.

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What did Columbus believe the lands he discovered were?

Answer: The eastern edges of Asia, known as the Indies.

Explanation: Christopher Columbus believed that the lands he discovered were the eastern edges of Asia, commonly referred to as the Indies.

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Cartographic Representation and Naming Conventions

The Cantino planisphere, created in 1502, illustrated a distinct land bridge connecting Asia with the Americas.

Answer: False

Explanation: The Cantino planisphere (1502) depicted the Americas as separate from Asia, though it suggested a potential connection by showing the Asian landmass extending eastward. It did not depict a clear land bridge.

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The Waldseemüller map of 1507 is recognized as the first cartographic work to label the Americas "America," a designation derived from Amerigo Vespucci's given name.

Answer: True

Explanation: Martin Waldseemüller's 1507 map, published alongside *Cosmographiae Introductio*, was indeed the first to label the newly identified continent "America," honoring Amerigo Vespucci.

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In his 1516 map revision, Martin Waldseemüller reconfigured North America by merging it with Asia and omitted the "America" label from South America.

Answer: True

Explanation: Martin Waldseemüller's subsequent map in 1516 represented a revision, depicting North America as connected to Asia (labeled "Terra de Cuba Asie partis") and removing the "America" designation from South America.

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The Johannes Schöner globe from 1533 illustrated North America as an independent landmass, accurately reflecting the most current geographical knowledge.

Answer: False

Explanation: The 1533 Johannes Schöner globe, contrary to reflecting the latest understanding, depicted North America as connected to Asia by a land bridge, indicating that some cartographic representations lagged behind the evolving geographical consensus.

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Cartographic representations from the early 16th century uniformly depicted the Americas as a distinct continent, entirely separate from Asia.

Answer: False

Explanation: Early 16th-century cartography exhibited evolving understanding; while some maps began to delineate the Americas separately, others still suggested connections or extensions of Asia, indicating inconsistency rather than uniformity in depicting them as entirely distinct.

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The Waldseemüller map of 1507 clearly delineated the Americas as a separate landmass and labeled it "America."

Answer: True

Explanation: Martin Waldseemüller's 1507 map was groundbreaking in its clear depiction of the Americas as a distinct continent, separate from Asia, and notably included the label "America."

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Which map, created in 1507, is famous for labeling the Americas as "America"?

Answer: Waldseemüller map

Explanation: The Waldseemüller map of 1507 is renowned for being the first to label the newly discovered continents as "America," in honor of Amerigo Vespucci.

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What change did Martin Waldseemüller make in his 1516 map regarding North America?

Answer: He merged the Asian landmass with North America and labeled it 'Terra de Cuba Asie partis'.

Explanation: In his 1516 map, Martin Waldseemüller revised his earlier depiction by merging the Asian landmass with North America and labeling it "Terra de Cuba Asie partis."

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What did the Cantino planisphere (1502) and Canerio map (1504) suggest about the relationship between Asia and the Americas?

Answer: A connection was possible, with Asia extending eastward.

Explanation: The Cantino planisphere and Canerio map suggested a potential connection between Asia and the Americas by depicting the Asian landmass extending eastward towards the newly mapped territories.

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Agricultural and Biological Contributions of the Americas

In agricultural terms, "New World crops" are plants domesticated in Europe, Africa, or Asia.

Answer: False

Explanation: "New World crops" refers to plants that were domesticated in the Americas and subsequently introduced to other parts of the world, not those originating from Europe, Africa, or Asia.

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Sweetpotato, cashew, and cocoa are examples of crops domesticated in the Andean region of South America.

Answer: False

Explanation: While sweetpotato is Andean, cashew and cocoa originated in Mesoamerica and South America respectively, but not exclusively the Andean region for all three.

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Which of the following is an example of a "New World" crop domesticated in Mesoamerica?

Answer: Maize

Explanation: Maize (corn) is a prime example of a "New World" crop domesticated in Mesoamerica, forming a staple part of the "three sisters" agricultural system.

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Which domesticated animal from Mesoamerica is considered a "New World" contribution?

Answer: Turkey

Explanation: The turkey is a significant domesticated animal originating from Mesoamerica, representing a key "New World" agricultural contribution.

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Which of these crops originated from the Andean region of South America?

Answer: Potato

Explanation: The potato is a major crop that originated in the Andean region of South America, representing a significant "New World" contribution to global agriculture.

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What common agricultural difference existed between the Old World and the Americas before post-Columbian contact?

Answer: The Americas lacked many common Old World crops and animals.

Explanation: A significant agricultural difference prior to post-Columbian contact was that the Americas lacked many of the staple crops and domesticated animals that were common in the Old World.

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Which of the following crops is believed to have been domesticated independently in both the Old and New Worlds?

Answer: Cotton

Explanation: Cotton is one of the few crops believed to have undergone independent domestication in both the Old World and the New World.

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What common agricultural history do the Old World continents share?

Answer: A history dating back to the Neolithic Revolution with spread of domesticates.

Explanation: The continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe share a common agricultural history rooted in the Neolithic Revolution, characterized by the domestication and diffusion of plants and animals across these regions.

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Which of the following crops originated in Mesoamerica and is known as part of the "three sisters"?

Answer: Squash

Explanation: Squash is a crop that originated in Mesoamerica and is recognized as one of the "three sisters" (maize, beans, squash), a foundational agricultural system.

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Which of the following is a key agricultural contribution from the Andean region of South America?

Answer: Llama

Explanation: The llama is a key domesticated animal originating from the Andean region of South America, representing an important agricultural contribution from that area.

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