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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Jan 20, 2007 by History Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
The Conquistadors is a four-part legacy series narrated by Michael Woods on Mexico and the Aztecs, Peru and the Inca, Amazonia, and North America. |
| Learning Goals: |
To teach students the significant role played by the Conquistadors in the history of the Americas.To provide students with the most current information on the history of Spanish exploration and colonization in the Americas. |
| Target Student Population: |
High School and college survey courses. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
Basic computer skills. Some knowledge about Spanish exploration and colonization in North and South America. |
| Type of Material: |
Interactive timelines, maps, illustrations, a few primary documents and text. Also includes extensive lesson plans for secondary school teachers. |
| Recommended Uses: |
To supplement the teaching of Pre-Columbian history and the history of Spanish colonization in the Americas.To develope instructional units on Hispano-American history. |
| Technical Requirements: |
Flash is needed for using the Timeline. |
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| Strengths: |
The Conquistadors is narrated by Michael Woods. The Legacy series is excellent because of Michael Woods enthusiasm for his subject. The site is divided into four parts: Mexico and the Aztecs, Peru and the Inca, Amazonia, and North America. Additional features include an interactive Timeline and Michael Woods' journal based on his travels duplicating the steps of the Conquistadors. The content is designed for grades 11 and 12, but could be easily adapted to the college survey course. The interactive timelines are effective and Micahel Woods' journal offers the opportunity to compare and contrast with the 16th century Conquistadors. |
| Concerns: |
The site works best if the videos filmed in conjunction with this site are used together. The content depth is not always great but the site offers good reinforcement to a textbook and there are many figures from the Age of the Conquistadors identified on the site who are usually omitted from textbooks. It is directed more to secondary than college students. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
The site clearly indicates that it is designed for use at the secondary level. A Teaching Guide is provided, which offers good questions that can be adapted for a college survey course. Bibliographies are available offering additional resources. The site fulfills the expectations and parameters established for itself. |
| Concerns: |
The site has much potential for expansion of content. |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
The site is easy to navigate. Flash is needed for the timeline and a download is provided and is quite fast. The interactive Timeline is an effective way to focus attention on the changing events affecting the Americas during the Age of the Conquistadors. A colorful map introduces the site user to the content. The site is available in both Spanish and English versions, which lend it to use in a Spanish class as well as a United States History class. Site users are free to contact PBS online to express views about the site and its content. |
| Concerns: |
None. |
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
As with most PBS sites, is geared to secondary students and could be a little more challenging. Would also like to have seen the primary documents be more visible. They are embedded in the lesson plans and not on the bar. There is quite a bit of information about PBS which is quite distracting. |
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