Америка в прошлом и настоящем. Часть I. Горчакова Е.П - 21 стр.

were possible. They wanted to contribute to this progress and improvement.
Has your country ever had such a "Golden Age"? If so, when was it? Were
there new developments in art or science? Was there rapid economic growth?
Was there an improved political organization? Were new lands discovered?
Was independence won? Did social conditions improve?
C. Which of the following do you consider the greatest invention? Please explain
your answer.
         a. gunpowder
         b. the printing press
         c. new instruments to guide explorers across long distances
         d. ships designed for long ocean voyages
D. If Marco Polo were describing your home town for his Description of the
World, what would he say?
E. Review the information given in the text. Then in one well-developed paragraph,
tell the class that information which appeals to you most of all.
F. Using Internet sources, find more information about the period of Renaissance.
Then in class make an interesting presentation.


                                    Unit III
          Searching for Trade Routes: A New World Encountered


Prereading Task
A. What do you know about Christopher Columbus trip to the New Land? What
dangers threatened his crew as they sailed across the dark, unknown Atlantic? Why do
you think they agreed to make this ocean crossing? Do you think Columbus was a
persuasive person? An experienced seaman? Why, or why not?
B. Have you ever heard about the city of Tenochtitlan? Do you know how the
magnificent Aztec capital looked when the Spaniards arrived in Mexico in 1519? How
do you think it was different from the cities of Europe at the time? What do you think
the explores felt when they first saw this Native American capital? What do you think
the Native Americans felt when they saw the Europeans approaching their capital?
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
1.     When Columbus began his adventure in 1492, the Portuguese had already found
a sea route to the Orient. They had not sailed west, as Columbus planned. Instead, they
had traveled south. Encouraged by their prince, Henry the Navigator, they had been
sailing down Africa's western coast since the 1430s. Henry was sure that his men could
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