1492 The Year of the New World Study Guide

Welcome to our page of "book notes" and study guide for Piero Ventura's 1492 The Year of the New World. Below you will find a review, vocabulary, comprehension questions, discussion questions, comments and more to help you get the most out of this book. Please see the topic notes for further activities that go with this book such as map work, science, art and more. This book is used in Topic 9: Columbus. Please see the topic for other related activities and ideas to study this time period and Columbus.

Some thoughts :

Although this book is "optional", I think it gives an excellent view of the world in 1492. Join imaginary characters based on actual records in eighteen different locations around the globe from the Old World to the New.

My son particularly enjoyed the small maps that showed the differences in past and present geography (political boundaries, countries that no longer exist, "new" ones that do, etc.). He also really liked seeing what the towns, people, clothing and other items looked like during this period of time in the many different featured lands. The illustrations are quite engaging.

Although many terms and ideas will be above a 3rd grader's "level", I think the effort to explain on the fly is worth the better "picture" of this time period s/he will walk away with. I know my son probably won't retain much about the Hapsburgs, the Hanseatic League or the particulars of the Ottoman Empire but he will be introduced to these things and more that will come up later in his studies in deeper detail.

I don't expect most vocabulary terms to be retained, but it's all about exposure! I'm always surprised by what my son does remember - and sometimes what he forgets, LOL! The other day he talked about how a certain Greek was a stoic. This term was used two years ago (1st grade) and in "passing". I was very surprised he recalled that word. Anyway, you are building up familiarity, not absolute retention - so don't stress if your child seems to immediately "forget" a term. *Activity suggestion: You can print out, cut and paste pictures of "visual" words into a notebook.

If you don't want to read Piero Ventura's 1942, I recommend at least borrowing it from your local library to browse over the illustrations and maps with your child.

*Warning -There is some "mild" cartoon tribal nudity depicted for those of you who are sensitive to that. The people are drawn very small though and it shouldn't be too big of a deal, if it's even noticed. We discuss how the natives did not share our concept of modesty and how their culture (s) differ from ours - if and when it comes up.

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p.9 The Old World

Vocabulary:
Printing press
customs duties
merchandise - things for sale
scholars
realms
alliances -"who will be on their side"

Geography: Moscow, Baltic Sea

*Note: For the geography items I suggest that you look at the little maps scattered throughout the book and also locate the noted places on a globe. I find that repeated use of a globe is more effective than a "flat" image on a map for long-term retention (at least for my children).

Why do you think it took so long for news to spread? How do we get news today? How did they get news in 1492?

p.10-13 Germany

Vocabulary:
soaring spires -point them out in the picture
fiancee
brocade
Marten
trousseau
herring
mint their own currency
amber
sable
lynx
ermine
beaver
prestige
stepped gables (see the picture on page 11)
Rathaus in Lubeck

The area in the Holy Roman Empire (which became Germany) was sort of like a country with a bunch of "little countries" or independent towns in it. Imagine if our country was like this. The town you live in would be able to declare war on other towns or countries all by itself. It could make it's own type of money that would be different from the money in other towns. If you wanted to go to Burger King in another town, they might not take your town's money. What sort of problems do you think could happen from a "country" like this?

Why did they use salt to preserve herring and other meats? (Germs don't grow very well in salt and they didn't have refrigerators, etc. to keep meat and fish fresh).

Geography: Germany, Sweden, Estonia, Denmark (peninsula), London

p.14-17 Flanders

Vocabulary:
wares - another name for merchandise!
extravagance
austere
prosperity
decline
canals
silting up
political maneuvers of rulers
heir
enthralled
commissions from rich, local patrons
Hans Memling - take a look at some of his paintings
The Shrine of St. Ursula
apprentice
accountant

Geography: North Sea
What countries exist today that didn't in 1492? Compare the maps on pages 16-17 to find out.

p.18-21 England

Vocabulary:
inn
mutton pie
civil wars between factions for succession (wars between people of one land / country to see who will be the ruler or king)
wants to relate (tell) these things to his friend

Geography: England, London Thames River, Norway

Thomas tells William the latest gossip ( page 21). What is gossip? Is it O.K. to gossip? What possible harm can come from gossip?

Proverbs 20:19 He who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,Therefore do not associate with a gossip.
1 Timothy 3:11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.

p.22- 25 France

Vocabulary:
penetrating (March air)
modest (family of modest means)
theology
meager (a meal that was meager and tasteless)
envy
flying buttress - Activity suggestion: If you have Legos, you might build an example of a flying buttress. If your child builds it, he won't forget it!
exile (prince in exile)
ambassador
architecture
rebellious
prosperity

Geography:
Paris, France, Seine River, Loire River

You may want to read a little about humanism and explain it in basic terms to your child, as it's mentioned on the bottom of page. 25.

Galatians 5:26 Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

p.26 - 29 The Ottoman Empire

Vocabulary:
stable groom
twilight
sentinels
dominion
tranquillity
bireme
tribute
offensive
cavalry
scimitar

Geography:
Turkey, Cyprus, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea

Concerning the Janissaries: Proverbs 22:6: Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Why do you think it made a difference that the Turks captured YOUNG boys instead of men? Why is it important to learn certain things when you are young? What would possibly happen in your life if you did not learn certain lessons? *Mom, think of some examples that your child might be struggling with whether they are moral or academic.

p.30 - 33 Genoa

wharf
meditating (as in deep thought)
ransom
commodities
finance
lavender - *Activity suggestion: grow some lavender in your yard!
resin
auburn
internal strife

Geography:
Italy, Genoa, Sicily, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Sardinia, Corsica

p. 35 - 37 Portugal

revolving
gradually
staunch
profitable
maritime
archipelago
equator (point it out on a globe, if you have one or demonstrate on a ball or orange)

Geography:

Portugal, Atlantic Ocean, Africa, Azores, Lisbon (Portugal)

p.38 - 41 Spain

Vocabulary:
retinue
destination
villa
smallpox (If you have been using our curriculum, remind your child about Omakayas from the Birchbark House.)
delicate
hesitation
conversion
possessions
expel
grief

Geography:
Spain, Strait of Gibraltar, Balearic Islands, Mediterranean Sea, Madrid

Why might the "Marranos" not be sincere? What might make a person in that position "lie" about a conversion? Do you think God would ever want people to be "forced" into believing in Him? What evidence do you have to support your position? How should we treat "non believers"?

p.42 - 45 Christopher Columbus and His Dream

Vocabulary:
anxiety
adolescent
caravan

Geography:
Genoa, Spain, Portugal, Lisbon, England, Iceland, Cape Verde Islands, Niger River, Japan, China

p. 46 - 47 The Geographic Theories

Vocabulary:
disputes
erroneous
navigator
circumference
conceived (of a system)
embark

p.48 - 52 The Ships and the Voyage, The Return to Spain

Vocabulary:
persuaded
prows (of ships)
Sargasso Sea
enraptured
raucous
murmuring
scrutinize
skeptics

Geography:
Canary Islands
Bahamas
Cuba (and the other nearby islands)

p. 53 The New World

Vocabulary:
subjugate
habitats
immigrants

Geography:
Asia, North / South / Central America, Siberia

Depending on your beliefs, you might want to discuss the "timeline" of 35,000 to 40,000 years ago.

How did the "Indians" get their name?

p. 54 - 57 The Tainos

Vocabulary:
frequented (by noisy seabirds)
uneasiness
pirogue
homage
narrate (If you do narrations, your child should be familiar with this term!)
*For more information on narration and how it could benefit your child you might want to click on this article.
marauders

Geography:
Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Caribbean Sea, Bahamas

p. 58 - 61 The Aztecs

Vocabulary:
agile
aqueduct
quetzal bird
jade
rubber (Where does it come from?)
agave
sculptor
scribe

Geography:
Gulf of Mexico, Mexico City, Acapulco, Pacific Ocean

p.62 - 65 The Maya

Vocabulary:

jaguar
humid
tapir
flint
mantle (as in something you wear)
lime (the stone kind, not the fruit!) limestone
cistern

Geography: Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador, Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea

Concerning the statement on p. 65 "The ancient wisdom of these people will be forgotten forever." :
1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.

p.66 - 69 The Inca

Vocabulary:
gradually
gourd
terraced
canal
irrigate
numerous
guano
llama

Geography:
Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Argentina, Pacific Ocean

p. 70 - 80 The Buffalo Hunters, The Villages Under a Rock Roof, The Lake and Forest Tribes

Vocabulary:
squaws
expertise
secluded
descends
Cedar
birchbark
trout
marsh
gloomy
gorge
odor
ravine
toboggan
terra-cotta

Geography: Look at the maps on the pages to see where the major tribes were located.

p.82 - 84 The Admiral's Destiny

Vocabulary:
monarchs
envoy
climate
sovereigns
rekindled
wane
imminent

p.85 - 91 (Various Section Titles)

discipline
prevailed
conquest
united
elegy

I suggest skipping the boxes with important dates in European history and Italian Renaissance art.

What do you think the very last sentence means? "Our only sin was this: we had what the white man wanted."

Do you think there is another side to the story?

What was your favorite part of this book? Which people would you want to live with if you lived in 1492?

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