The Age of Exploration Standards
Students compare and contrast the geographic, political, religious, social, and economic
structures of the Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations. Students analyze reasons for
movement of people from Europe to the Americas, describing the impact of exploration by
Europeans and American Indians.
7.64 Identify the locations of the Olmecs, Mayans, Aztec, and Incas and explain the impact of
the geographical features and climates of Mexico, Central America, and South America on their civilizations.
7.65 Describe the highly structured social and political system of the Maya civilization, ruled by
kings and consisting of agriculturally intensive centers around independent city-states.
7.66 Create a graphic organizer or concept map explaining how and where each empire arose (how the Aztec and Incan empires were eventually defeated by the Spanish in the 16th century).
7.67 Explain the roles of peoples in the Aztec and Incan societies, including class structures,
family life, warfare, religious beliefs and practices, and slavery.
7.68 Use multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to describe the artistic
and oral traditions and architecture in the four civilizations (Olmecs, Mayan, Aztec, and Incan
civilizations).
7.69 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support the analysis of the impacts of the
Mesoamerican developments in astronomy and mathematics, including the calendar, and the
Mesoamerican knowledge of seasonal changes to the civilizations’ agricultural systems.
7.70 Compare the varied economies and trade networks within and among major indigenous
cultures prior to contact with Europeans and their systems of government, religious beliefs,
distinct territories, and customs and traditions.
7.71 Identify the European countries responsible for North American exploration and the
modern day countries in which they settled, including France, Spain, England, Portugal, and the Dutch. Summarize the reasons for the success of these countries in colonization or North and South America.
7.72 Analyze why European countries were motivated to explore including religion, political
rivalry, and economic gain.
7.73 Identify the voyages of discovery, the locations of the routes, and the influence of
technology in the developments of a new European worldview including cartography, compass, caravel, astrolabe.
7.74 Examine the impact of the exchanges of plants, animals, technology, culture, ideas, and
diseases among Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries and the major economic and social effects on each continent.
structures of the Mesoamerican and Andean civilizations. Students analyze reasons for
movement of people from Europe to the Americas, describing the impact of exploration by
Europeans and American Indians.
7.64 Identify the locations of the Olmecs, Mayans, Aztec, and Incas and explain the impact of
the geographical features and climates of Mexico, Central America, and South America on their civilizations.
7.65 Describe the highly structured social and political system of the Maya civilization, ruled by
kings and consisting of agriculturally intensive centers around independent city-states.
7.66 Create a graphic organizer or concept map explaining how and where each empire arose (how the Aztec and Incan empires were eventually defeated by the Spanish in the 16th century).
7.67 Explain the roles of peoples in the Aztec and Incan societies, including class structures,
family life, warfare, religious beliefs and practices, and slavery.
7.68 Use multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to describe the artistic
and oral traditions and architecture in the four civilizations (Olmecs, Mayan, Aztec, and Incan
civilizations).
7.69 Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support the analysis of the impacts of the
Mesoamerican developments in astronomy and mathematics, including the calendar, and the
Mesoamerican knowledge of seasonal changes to the civilizations’ agricultural systems.
7.70 Compare the varied economies and trade networks within and among major indigenous
cultures prior to contact with Europeans and their systems of government, religious beliefs,
distinct territories, and customs and traditions.
7.71 Identify the European countries responsible for North American exploration and the
modern day countries in which they settled, including France, Spain, England, Portugal, and the Dutch. Summarize the reasons for the success of these countries in colonization or North and South America.
7.72 Analyze why European countries were motivated to explore including religion, political
rivalry, and economic gain.
7.73 Identify the voyages of discovery, the locations of the routes, and the influence of
technology in the developments of a new European worldview including cartography, compass, caravel, astrolabe.
7.74 Examine the impact of the exchanges of plants, animals, technology, culture, ideas, and
diseases among Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries and the major economic and social effects on each continent.