Indies

European diseases (smallpox, influenza, measles and typhus) to which the native populations had no resistance, and cruel systems of forced labor (such as the infamous haciendas and mining industry's mita), decimated the American population. These diseases usually preceeded the Spanish invaders, and the resulting population loss (between 30 and 90 percent in some cases) severely weakened the native civilizations' ability to fight back. After conquering an area, the colonists usually enslaved the native people, using them for forced lab ...

See also:

Spanish colonization of the Americas, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Early settlement, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Effect on natives, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Slavery, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Spanish colonies, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Caribbean, Spanish colonization of the Americas - South America, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Central America, Spanish colonization of the Americas - North America, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Northern extent of Spanish influence, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Independence

Read more here: » Spanish colonization of the Americas: Encyclopedia II - Spanish colonization of the Americas - Effect on natives

Areas in the Americas under Spanish control included most of South and Central America, Mexico, parts of the Caribbean and much of the United States. The initial years saw a struggle between the Conquistadores and the royal authority. The Conquistadores were often poor nobles that wanted to acquire the land and labourers (Encomiendas and Repartimientos) that they couldn't achieve in Europe. Rebellions were frequent (See Lope de Aguirre). The Spanish Crown resorted to several systems of government, including Adelantados, C ...

See also:

Spanish colonization of the Americas, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Early settlement, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Effect on natives, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Slavery, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Spanish colonies, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Caribbean, Spanish colonization of the Americas - South America, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Central America, Spanish colonization of the Americas - North America, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Northern extent of Spanish influence, Spanish colonization of the Americas - Independence

Read more here: » Spanish colonization of the Americas: Encyclopedia II - Spanish colonization of the Americas - Spanish colonies

Christopher Columbus has had a cultural significance beyond his actual achievements and actions as an individual; he also became a symbol, a figure of legend. The mythology of Columbus has cast him as an archetype for both good and for evil. The casting of Columbus as a figure of "good" or of "evil" often depends on people's perspectives as to whether the arrival of Europeans to the New World and the introduction of Christianity (p ...

See also:

Christopher Columbus, Christopher Columbus - Early life, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' theories, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' campaign for funding, Christopher Columbus - Voyages, Christopher Columbus - First voyage, Christopher Columbus - Second voyage, Christopher Columbus - Third voyage and arrest, Christopher Columbus - Fourth and final voyage, Christopher Columbus - Later life, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' national origin, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' language, Christopher Columbus - Perceptions of Columbus, Christopher Columbus - Columbus as hero, Christopher Columbus - Columbus as villain, Christopher Columbus - Physical appearance

Read more here: » Christopher Columbus: Encyclopedia II - Christopher Columbus - Perceptions of Columbus

When Christopher Columbus arrived in the "New World", he described the people he encountered as Indians because he mistakenly believed that he had reached the islands known to Europeans as the Indies. Despite Columbus's mistake, the name Indian (or American Indian) stuck, and for centuries the native people of the Americas were collectively called Indians in America, and similar terms in Europe. The problem with this traditional term is that the peoples of India are, of course, also known as Indians. The te ...

See also:

Native Americans in the United States, Native Americans in the United States - Early history, Native Americans in the United States - The Bering Strait Land Bridge theory, Native Americans in the United States - Settling down, Native Americans in the United States - European colonization, Native Americans in the United States - Initial impacts, Native Americans in the United States - Early relations, Native Americans in the United States - Removal and reservations, Native Americans in the United States - Current status, Native Americans in the United States - Cultural aspects, Native Americans in the United States - Society, Native Americans in the United States - Religion, Native Americans in the United States - Gender roles, Native Americans in the United States - Music and art, Native Americans in the United States - Economy, Native Americans in the United States - Terminology differences, Native Americans in the United States - Common usage in the U.S., Native Americans in the United States - Bibliography

Read more here: » Native Americans in the United States: Encyclopedia II - Native Americans in the United States - Terminology differences

Father Dagon and Mother Hydra are both minor Great Old Ones; though it is possible that they are merely Deep Ones that have grown abnormally large. Together with Cthulhu, they form the triad of gods worshipped by the Deep Ones. (See Dagon, a Semitic fertility deity.) Mother Hydra is the consort to Father Dagon. The Call of Cthulhu role-playing game suggests that Mother Hydra may not be a Great Old One at all but is in fact just a gigantic Deep One. It is also possible that she holds a titular position for the city that happens to h ...

See also:

Deep One, Deep One - Deep Ones in the mythos, Deep One - Deep One hybrid, Deep One - Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, Deep One - Innsmouth, Deep One - Y'ha-nthlei, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon in Media, Deep One - Movie

Read more here: » Deep One: Encyclopedia II - Deep One - Father Dagon and Mother Hydra

The (fictional) town of Innsmouth is a coastal village located in Essex County, Massachusetts, between Newburyport and Arkham. Founded in 1643, Innsmouth was once a great trading center and port of call for ships from across the world. The War of 1812 brought an end to the town's prosperity when many of its sailors turned to privateering and were subsequently killed in raids against the British fleet. As a result, sea trade fell off considerably and most of the town's income came primarily from mills built along the Manuxet River. The town also relied on dwindling revenues from Captain Obed Marsh's increasin ...

See also:

Deep One, Deep One - Deep Ones in the mythos, Deep One - Deep One hybrid, Deep One - Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, Deep One - Innsmouth, Deep One - Y'ha-nthlei, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon in Media, Deep One - Movie

Read more here: » Deep One: Encyclopedia II - Deep One - Innsmouth

"Cyclopean and many-columned Y'ha-nthlei"[2] is by far the most prominent Deep One city. It is a great undersea metropolis located below Devil's Reef just off the coast of Massachusetts, near the town of Innsmouth. Its exact age is not known, but it is probably thousands of centuries oldSee also:

Deep One, Deep One - Deep Ones in the mythos, Deep One - Deep One hybrid, Deep One - Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, Deep One - Innsmouth, Deep One - Y'ha-nthlei, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon in Media, Deep One - Movie

Read more here: » Deep One: Encyclopedia II - Deep One - Y'ha-nthlei

The Esoteric Order of Dagon was the primary religion in Innsmouth after Captain Obed Marsh returned from the South Seas with the dark religion circa 1838. It quickly took root due to its promises of expensive gold artifacts and fish, which were desired by the primarily-fishing town. The central beings worshipped by the Order were the Deep Ones, Father Dagon, Mother Hydra, and, to a lesser extent, Cthulhu. The Deep Ones were seen largely as intermediaries between the various gods, rather than as gods themselves. Even so, the cultists sacrificed various locals to the Deep Ones at specific times ...

See also:

Deep One, Deep One - Deep Ones in the mythos, Deep One - Deep One hybrid, Deep One - Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, Deep One - Innsmouth, Deep One - Y'ha-nthlei, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon in Media, Deep One - Movie

Read more here: » Deep One: Encyclopedia II - Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon

On occasion, Deep Ones will make deals with humans. In exchange for human sacrifices, Deep Ones will bestow various gifts such as gold jewelry or, if the humans are sea folk, the guarantee of plentiful fishing. But eventually they will demand "mixing"—the mating, perhaps forced—of themselves and humans. The offspring of the pairing is immortal. Unfortunately, it is a faustian bargain, because although the Deep One hybrid is born with the appearance of a normal human being, the individual will eventually transform into a Deep One, gaining immortality—by default ...

See also:

Deep One, Deep One - Deep Ones in the mythos, Deep One - Deep One hybrid, Deep One - Father Dagon and Mother Hydra, Deep One - Innsmouth, Deep One - Y'ha-nthlei, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon, Deep One - Esoteric Order of Dagon in Media, Deep One - Movie

Read more here: » Deep One: Encyclopedia II - Deep One - Deep One hybrid

Christopher Columbus has had a cultural significance beyond his actual achievements and actions as an individual; he also became a symbol, a figure of legend. The mythology of Columbus has cast him as an archetype for both good and for evil. The casting of Columbus as a figure of "good" or of "evil" often depends on people's perspectives as to whether the arrival of Europeans to the New World and the introduction of Chr ...

See also:

Christopher Columbus, Christopher Columbus - Early life, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' theories, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' campaign for funding, Christopher Columbus - Voyages, Christopher Columbus - First voyage, Christopher Columbus - Second voyage, Christopher Columbus - Third voyage and arrest, Christopher Columbus - Fourth and final voyage, Christopher Columbus - Later life, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' national origin, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' language, Christopher Columbus - Perceptions of Columbus, Christopher Columbus - Columbus as hero, Christopher Columbus - Columbus as villain, Christopher Columbus - Physical appearance

Read more here: » Christopher Columbus: Encyclopedia II - Christopher Columbus - Perceptions of Columbus

New Spain's province of California was divided into Alta California and Baja California on May 19, 1773 near the San Juan Bautista creek by Fray Francisco Palou. A marker is erected in the place where the dividing committee began the measurements for the province's partition. The marker is behind the Misión San Miguel Arcángel de la Frontera, near Ensenada. Translated into English, the inscription reads: San Juan Bautista creek (RESPI.MAY.1769) This was the starting point for the setting of the first internation ...

See also:

Baja California Peninsula, Baja California Peninsula - The Island of Lower California, Baja California Peninsula - Political divisions, Baja California Peninsula - Geographic Features, Baja California Peninsula - History, Baja California Peninsula - Partition, Baja California Peninsula - External link

Read more here: » Baja California Peninsula: Encyclopedia II - Baja California Peninsula - Partition

There are various versions of Columbus' origins and life before 1476. (See Columbus' national origin.) The account that has traditionally been supported by most historians is as follows: Columbus was born between August 26 and October 31 in the year 1451, in the Italian port city of Genoa. His father was Domenico Colombo, a woollens merchant, and his mother was Susanna Fontanarossa, the daughter of a woollens merchant. Christopher had three younger brothers, Bartolomeo, Giovanni P ...

See also:

Christopher Columbus, Christopher Columbus - Early life, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' theories, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' campaign for funding, Christopher Columbus - Voyages, Christopher Columbus - First voyage, Christopher Columbus - Second voyage, Christopher Columbus - Third voyage and arrest, Christopher Columbus - Fourth and final voyage, Christopher Columbus - Later life, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' national origin, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' language, Christopher Columbus - Perceptions of Columbus, Christopher Columbus - Columbus as hero, Christopher Columbus - Columbus as villain, Christopher Columbus - Physical appearance

Read more here: » Christopher Columbus: Encyclopedia II - Christopher Columbus - Early life

Although the vast majority of historians consider him Italian, various doubts have been expressed regarding Columbus's national origin. Even if he is generally assumed to be Italian (specifically Genoese), his background is clouded in mystery. Very little is really known about Columbus before the mid-1470s. It has been suggested that this might have been because he was hiding something—an event in his origin or history that he deliberately kept a secret. The issue of Columbus's 'nationality' became an issue after the rise of nationa ...

See also:

Christopher Columbus, Christopher Columbus - Early life, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' theories, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' campaign for funding, Christopher Columbus - Voyages, Christopher Columbus - First voyage, Christopher Columbus - Second voyage, Christopher Columbus - Third voyage and arrest, Christopher Columbus - Fourth and final voyage, Christopher Columbus - Later life, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' national origin, Christopher Columbus - Columbus' language, Christopher Columbus - Perceptions of Columbus, Christopher Columbus - Columbus as hero, Christopher Columbus - Columbus as villain, Christopher Columbus - Physical appearance

Read more here: » Christopher Columbus: Encyclopedia II - Christopher Columbus - Columbus' national origin

The first major territory Spain was to lose in the nineteenth century was the vast and wild Louisiana Territory, which stretched north to Canada and was ceded by France in 1763. The French, under Napoleon, took back possession as part of the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800 and sold it to the United States (Louisiana Purchase, 1803). The destruction of the main Spanish fleet, under French command, at the Battle of Trafalgar (1805) undermined Spain's ability to defend and hold on to its empire. The later intrusion of Napoleonic forces into Sp ...

See also:

Spanish Empire, Spanish Empire - The beginnings of the empire 1402-1521, Spanish Empire - The Golden Age of Spain: The Sun Never Sets 1521-1643, Spanish Empire - Battle of Pavia to the Peace of Augsburg 1525-1555, Spanish Empire - St. Quentin to Lepanto 1556–1571, Spanish Empire - The troubled kingdom 1571-1598, Spanish Empire - God is Spanish 1596-1626, Spanish Empire - The road to Rocroi 1626-1643, Spanish Empire - The Empire of the last Spanish Habsburgs 1643 – 1713, Spanish Empire - The Bourbon Spanish Empire: Reform and Recovery 1713 – 1806, Spanish Empire - Twilight in the Global Empire 1808 – 1898, Spanish Empire - The last territories in Africa 1898-1975, Spanish Empire - External Link

Read more here: » Spanish Empire: Encyclopedia II - Spanish Empire - Twilight in the Global Empire 1808 – 1898

Under the Treaties of Utrecht (April 11, 1713), the European powers decided what the fate of Spain would be, in terms of the continental balance of power. The new Bourbon king Philip V retained the Spanish overseas empire, but ceded the Spanish Netherlands, Naples, Milan, and Sardinia to Austria; Sicily and parts of the Milanese to Savoy; and Gibraltar and Minorca to Great Britain. Thus the Empire largely turned its back on European territories (the disastrous showing in the War of the Quadruple Alliance, 1718-1720, confirmed this reo ...

See also:

Spanish Empire, Spanish Empire - The beginnings of the empire 1402-1521, Spanish Empire - The Golden Age of Spain: The Sun Never Sets 1521-1643, Spanish Empire - Battle of Pavia to the Peace of Augsburg 1525-1555, Spanish Empire - St. Quentin to Lepanto 1556–1571, Spanish Empire - The troubled kingdom 1571-1598, Spanish Empire - God is Spanish 1596-1626, Spanish Empire - The road to Rocroi 1626-1643, Spanish Empire - The Empire of the last Spanish Habsburgs 1643 – 1713, Spanish Empire - The Bourbon Spanish Empire: Reform and Recovery 1713 – 1806, Spanish Empire - Twilight in the Global Empire 1808 – 1898, Spanish Empire - The last territories in Africa 1898-1975, Spanish Empire - External Link

Read more here: » Spanish Empire: Encyclopedia II - Spanish Empire - The Bourbon Spanish Empire: Reform and Recovery 1713 – 1806

Fado: Mariza Fado: Cristina Branco Portuguese Guitar: Chaínho Portugal is an ancient nation and for more than 1000 years it has maintained its specific culture through a self-governing venture while being influenced by the various civilizations that crossed the Mediterranean world. Thus, it has always absorbed habits and traditions from such early civilizations and from the regions that it discovered and conquered throughout the world during the Portuguese empire, establishing a specific legacy. An explicit inst ...

See also:

Portugal, Portugal - History, Portugal - Lusitania, Portugal - The kingdom, Portugal - The Portuguese discoveries, Portugal - Braganza Dynasty, Portugal - The republics, Portugal - Government and politics, Portugal - Foreign relations and military, Portugal - Subdivisions, Portugal - Geography and climate, Portugal - Flora and fauna, Portugal - Economy, Portugal - Transportation and communications, Portugal - Demographics, Portugal - Education, Portugal - Culture, Portugal - Cuisine, Portugal - Sports and games, Portugal - Festivals and holidays, Portugal - Notes

Read more here: » Portugal: Encyclopedia II - Portugal - Culture

Main articles: Portuguese cuisine and Portuguese wines Portuguese cuisine is particularly diverse; various recipes of rice, potatoes, bread, meat, sea-food, and fish are the staple foods in the country. The Portuguese have a reputation for loving cod dishes (bacalhau in Portuguese), for which it is said that there are 365 ways of cooking it: Pastéis de Bacalhau, Bacalhau à Brás and Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá are some of the most popular ones. The art of pastry, having its origins in old and rich conventual ...

See also:

Portugal, Portugal - History, Portugal - Lusitania, Portugal - The kingdom, Portugal - The Portuguese discoveries, Portugal - Braganza Dynasty, Portugal - The republics, Portugal - Government and politics, Portugal - Foreign relations and military, Portugal - Subdivisions, Portugal - Geography and climate, Portugal - Flora and fauna, Portugal - Economy, Portugal - Transportation and communications, Portugal - Demographics, Portugal - Education, Portugal - Culture, Portugal - Cuisine, Portugal - Sports and games, Portugal - Festivals and holidays, Portugal - Notes

Read more here: » Portugal: Encyclopedia II - Portugal - Cuisine

Football is the most popular and practised sport in Portugal. As of November 2004, the country was ranked 8th of 205 countries by FIFA. The legendary Eusébio is still a symbol of Portuguese football. Luís Figo is one of the world's top players, Rui Costa and Cristiano Ronaldo are also noteworthy and Vítor Baía is the player in history with most titles won, including all european club cups. The main domestic football competition is the Superliga where the dominating teams are SL Benfica, FC Porto and Sporting CP. Many other professional a ...

See also:

Portugal, Portugal - History, Portugal - Lusitania, Portugal - The kingdom, Portugal - The Portuguese discoveries, Portugal - Braganza Dynasty, Portugal - The republics, Portugal - Government and politics, Portugal - Foreign relations and military, Portugal - Subdivisions, Portugal - Geography and climate, Portugal - Flora and fauna, Portugal - Economy, Portugal - Transportation and communications, Portugal - Demographics, Portugal - Education, Portugal - Culture, Portugal - Cuisine, Portugal - Sports and games, Portugal - Festivals and holidays, Portugal - Notes

Read more here: » Portugal: Encyclopedia II - Portugal - Sports and games

Festivals play a major role in Portugal's summers. Even though they have religious connotations, most of these celebrations are, in fact, anything but religious. Every city and town has its own festivals. The June Festivities are very popular, these festivities are dedicated to three saints known as Santos Populares (Popular saints) and take place all over Portugal. Why the populace associated the saints with these pagan festivities is not known. The practice is possibly related to Roman or local deities before Christianity spread in ...

See also:

Portugal, Portugal - History, Portugal - Lusitania, Portugal - The kingdom, Portugal - The Portuguese discoveries, Portugal - Braganza Dynasty, Portugal - The republics, Portugal - Government and politics, Portugal - Foreign relations and military, Portugal - Subdivisions, Portugal - Geography and climate, Portugal - Flora and fauna, Portugal - Economy, Portugal - Transportation and communications, Portugal - Demographics, Portugal - Education, Portugal - Culture, Portugal - Cuisine, Portugal - Sports and games, Portugal - Festivals and holidays, Portugal - Notes

Read more here: » Portugal: Encyclopedia II - Portugal - Festivals and holidays

Portugal's education system is divided into Pré-Escolar (children less than 6 years old), Ensino Básico (three phases in a total of 9 years), Ensino Secundário (three years, several areas) and Ensino Superior (Universities and Colleges grouped into Polytechnic Institutes). Education is free and compulsory for 9 years of study. A newly undertaken scheme will make education compulsory until the student becomes an adult (18 years old). The country still has a 6.7% illiteracy rate, almost exclusively among the elde ...

See also:

Portugal, Portugal - History, Portugal - Lusitania, Portugal - The kingdom, Portugal - The Portuguese discoveries, Portugal - Braganza Dynasty, Portugal - The republics, Portugal - Government and politics, Portugal - Foreign relations and military, Portugal - Subdivisions, Portugal - Geography and climate, Portugal - Flora and fauna, Portugal - Economy, Portugal - Transportation and communications, Portugal - Demographics, Portugal - Education, Portugal - Culture, Portugal - Cuisine, Portugal - Sports and games, Portugal - Festivals and holidays, Portugal - Notes

Read more here: » Portugal: Encyclopedia II - Portugal - Education

Portugal is a fairly homogeneous country linguistically and religiously. Ethnically, the Portuguese people are a combination of several ethnicities: pre-Roman Iberian and Celtic tribes with Romans and Germanic tribes. Moors became a reduced influence, as essentialy they were expelled during the Reconquista. Jews comprised 10% of the population in the 16th Century until they were forced to move abroad or convert to Catholicism. Portugal's biggest metropolitan cities are Lisbon, Porto, Braga, Aveiro, and Coimbra. The first census ...

See also:

Portugal, Portugal - History, Portugal - Lusitania, Portugal - The kingdom, Portugal - The Portuguese discoveries, Portugal - Braganza Dynasty, Portugal - The republics, Portugal - Government and politics, Portugal - Foreign relations and military, Portugal - Subdivisions, Portugal - Geography and climate, Portugal - Flora and fauna, Portugal - Economy, Portugal - Transportation and communications, Portugal - Demographics, Portugal - Education, Portugal - Culture, Portugal - Cuisine, Portugal - Sports and games, Portugal - Festivals and holidays, Portugal - Notes

Read more here: » Portugal: Encyclopedia II - Portugal - Demographics

Human activity, diversity of climate, and geographical diversity have shaped the Portuguese Flora. There are almost 2,800 autochthonous species. For economic reasons, pine trees (especially the Pinus pinaster and Pinus pinea species), the chestnut tree and the eucalyptus are very widespread. The Peneda-Gerês National Park (mostly known as Gerês) is located in the extreme north-west of Portugal. The park has a wide variety of oaken and mixed forests, groves, peat bogs, and diverse bushes, including autochthonous ...

See also:

Portugal, Portugal - History, Portugal - Lusitania, Portugal - The kingdom, Portugal - The Portuguese discoveries, Portugal - Braganza Dynasty, Portugal - The republics, Portugal - Government and politics, Portugal - Foreign relations and military, Portugal - Subdivisions, Portugal - Geography and climate, Portugal - Flora and fauna, Portugal - Economy, Portugal - Transportation and communications, Portugal - Demographics, Portugal - Education, Portugal - Culture, Portugal - Cuisine, Portugal - Sports and games, Portugal - Festivals and holidays, Portugal - Notes

Read more here: » Portugal: Encyclopedia II - Portugal - Flora and fauna