Amazon Interactive
Where did the word "Amazon" come from?
A Greek myth?
That's right!
Francisco de Orellana was a Spanish conquistador and the firstEuropean to travel the length of the Amazon river, in 1541-42. Along theway, he and his men ran into a tribe of fierce women warriors, each "doingas much fighting as ten Indian men." Orellana recalled the Greek mythof warrier women and named the entire river "Amazonas."
Orellana's journey down the Amazon River
The Amazon women of South America were only one of many indigenouspeoples which Orellana met during his expedition. Most lived along rivers,where canoes made transportation easy. Many of these Indians, or indigenouspeople, died from diseases brought by Europeans. Others died after beingenslaved. Today, there are fewer indigenous people in the Amazon than therewere 500 years ago. But other people also live in the Amazon. Who are they?
Who else lives there now? |
