Unit "1": Native American Societies Before European Contact Vocab Flashcards
To learn the vocabulary of this unit.
Bering Strait
A crossable land bridge during the Ice Age which native americans crossed to get to north america 15,000 years ago. No longer exists.
Maize Cultivation
7,000 years ago: Allowed hunters and gatherers to become stationary and beging to develop unique societies and cultures.
Northwest Coast
Natives here had an abundance of food from fishing and lumber from the forests so they could establish permanent villages.
Southwest
Natives here lived in caves and under cliffs, because maize could survive the dry weather they were able to settle down and lived in adobe style home. Movied rivers with irrigation.
North East
Agriculture(farming) based settlements; Three Sisters Farming
Three Sisters Farming
Used by Iroquois, consisted of corn, beans, and squash. When planted together these plants nurtured eacchother and grew better.
Southeast
Had fertile soil and fishing thanks to rivers. Allowed for big populations and lots of trading.
Cahokia
Village in southeast with 25,000 people.
Great Plains
Dry arid climate was not good for famring to they were nomadic. They followed hers of buffalo in teepees which were easy to build and take down.
South American Natives
Very advanced, understoof space, time and the solar system. Pyramids took great engineering.
Tenochtitlan
Aztec capitol larger than any European city; written language and irrigation.
Why did europeans explore toward the west?
By the time Asian goods made it across to Europe they were very expensive, Portugal wanted to cut out the “middleman” and find a way to sail directly to Asia.
Why not sail around Africa?
Boats sucked and the winds were too strong.
Caravel
Small, fast ship designed for sailing oppsed to naval battle invented by Prince Henry the Navigator in early 1400’s. Allowed for sailing around Africa.
Trading Post Empire
Portugal became a trading post empire olong the coast of Africa after the invention of the caravel and became wealthy.(1400’s)
Reconquista
Carried out by Ferdinand and Isabella after they united Aragon and Castille to form Spain.