Mid-Term Exam Flashcards
Pre-Columbian Native Americans
a. Name the two most talked about
b. Name Incas distinguishing characteristics
c. Name Aztecs distinguishing characteristics
a. Incas & Aztecs
b. Incas - Peru. Silver. Gained power as 2nd through trade and commerce with intricate routes. 9 million pop. Travel of smallpox through trade routes with Aztecs made their downfall.
c. Aztecs - Mexico. Gold. Hardcore, militant. 25 million pop pre-European contact. Frequent sacrifices, organs included.
Montezuma
- Last official leader of the Aztecs, not very firm
- Foolish, becomes Cortez’ puppet and he uses him to find weaknesses in society
Why were Europeans drawn to Asia and the Middle East during the 1400’s?
- Riches
- Territory
- Wanted to spread Christianity and stop the spread of Islam, feared Muslims would try to conquer Europe
Christopher Columbus
- Truly believed he could find a shorter route to Asia, in denial bc he didn’t want to be decapitated
- Born and died at the poverty line
- First goes to Prince Henry of Portugal, refuses; goes to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, accept
Early explorers in the New World
- Amerigo Vespucci rich dick (Takes Columbus’ discoveries)
- Hernando Cortez (Aztecs)
- F. Pizarro (Peru)
The European conquest of the Incas and Aztecs
Disease decimated the Native Americans esp smallpox; stayed after conquest to claim territory for Spain;
Hernando Cortez
- Hears 10 mill, not 25 mill, asks for 600 soldiers, victory in one yr
- Cocky, over confidence with having never lost a battle
- Comes in 1519, yr Aztec gods are supposed to come
French colonization efforts and settlements in the New World
- Tried to settle in FL near Spanish St. Augustine, but Spain killed all of them and put heads on spikes on the beach
- Moves far away to Canada, but only seen in summer
Roanoke Colony
- First English colony in the New World in NC
- John White recruited 117 settlers; went back to England during a war with Spain so no boats bearing the English flag allowed to sail, didn’t come back for 1 1/2 yrs
- No Christian cross, “CRO” carved on the bottom of a door frame, most believe colonists assimilated into the Croatans
Virginia Co.
Fashioned by King of England so ensure a foothold in the New World; King gets 60% of profits, usually 80%
Cash crops in VA
Tobacco, indigo, & rice
Headright system in VA
- Headright System is in response to the downfall of the Indentured Servant system due to unfair conditions
o After servitude, 50 acres of land for every member of the family
o As a result, too much tobacco is produced and prices fall drastically
Dale’s Laws in VA
- after anarchy has ruined the land and half the pop dead, new leadership from the VA Co. Sir Thomas Dale and 1,000 new recruits
- Observes for 4 mos. and creates the Dale’s Laws; a lot basic common sense and courtesy (+200)
- No stealing
- Hunting regulations
- Fair trade with Native Am’s
Indentured servants
- Indentured servants would have the VA Co. go through the farmers to pay for their voyage; contracts would be for 7 yrs
o Food good for productivity
o Clothing and housing mediocre
Why did Native Americans experience a great loss of life after European settlers arrived in the New World?
Diseases ravaged their populations especially smallpox.
Slave labor in VA
- African in 1617 arrive as an indentured servant and lives through his contract, but contracts expand eventually to life
• Middle Passage exists for about 300 yrs - Southerners convince themselves they are like the slaves’ parents, lie becomes cemented in society
What motivated the initial Jamestown settlers to come to the New World?
VA Co. pays for laborious work in New World, esp tobacco trade
Christopher Columbus’ voyages to the New World
1st San Salvador; 2nd Cuba & Jamaica; 3rd South America
What economic factor contributed to the initial success of the French settlement in Canada?
Fur trading and the whaling industry
Captain John Smith
Liar, old brown haired brown eyed bearded guy who liked to tell stories of his “conquests”; one redeeming quality was he was like a father to Pocahontas and protected and stood up for her
Native Americans migrating from Asia to North America
Followed the food source across the Bering Strait land bridge
Initial settlers in Jamestown
Male dominated for laborious work to build the colony and make money for the VA Co. and the king
Early Jamestown society
Male dominated 10:1
Religion and church attendance (7 to 1 change)
Women improved social standing because they had their pick of the litter
Croatan Native Americans
Not particularly friendly, neighboring Jamestown, trade and tried indentured servitude
