UNIT 1 Vocab Flashcards
Corn (maize)
A staple crop domesticated by Native Americans, central to their agriculture and diet, playing a significant role in the development of complex societies.
Horses
Introduced by Europeans, horses transformed Native American societies, enhancing transportation, hunting, and warfare capabilities, particularly for Plains tribes.
Diseases
European contact brought diseases like smallpox to the Americas, devastating indigenous populations who had no immunity, significantly altering demographics and societies.
Encomienda System
A Spanish labor system that granted colonists control over indigenous populations for labor in exchange for their protection and Christianization, leading to exploitation.
Asiento System
A Spanish system that regulated the Atlantic slave trade by allowing the importation of African slaves to the New World, significantly impacting the labor force in colonies.
Slavery
The institution of forced labor that became a cornerstone of the colonial economy, particularly in agriculture, leading to profound social and economic ramifications.
Land Bridge
Refers to the Bering Land Bridge that connected Asia to North America during the Ice Age, allowing the migration of early humans to the Americas.
Adena-Hopewell
A Native American culture known for its earthen mounds and extensive trade networks, located in the Ohio River Valley, representing early complex societies.
Hokokam, Anasazi, and Pueblos
Indigenous groups in the Southwest known for their advanced agricultural techniques, cliff dwellings, and intricate irrigation systems.
Woodland Mound Builders
Native American cultures in the Eastern U.S. known for their burial mounds and complex societies, combining agriculture with hunting and gathering.
Lakota Sioux
A Native American tribe from the Great Plains known for their nomadic lifestyle centered around buffalo hunting and significant resistance to U.S. expansion.
Mayas
An advanced civilization in Mesoamerica known for their mathematics, astronomy, and impressive architectural achievements, including pyramids and city-states.
Incas
A powerful empire in South America known for their extensive road system, advanced agricultural practices, and monumental architecture, such as Machu Picchu.
Aztecs
A Mesoamerican civilization known for their tribute system, complex society, and impressive capital city, Tenochtitlán, which was eventually conquered by the Spanish.
Conquistadores
Spanish explorers and conquerors who played a key role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas, often leading to the downfall of indigenous empires.
Hernán Cortés
A Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire and the establishment of Spanish control over Mexico.
Francisco Pizarro
A Spanish conquistador known for his conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru, leading to the vast expansion of Spanish territories in South America.
New Laws of 1542:
Legislation enacted in Spain aimed at protecting indigenous peoples from exploitation and abuse under the encomienda system, though enforcement was limited.
Roanoke Island
The site of the first English attempt at colonization in the Americas, which ultimately failed, leading to the mysterious disappearance of its settlers.
Compass
An essential navigation tool introduced during the Age of Exploration, aiding sailors in determining direction, crucial for long sea voyages.
Printing Press
An invention that revolutionized the spread of information in Europe, facilitating the dissemination of ideas during the Renaissance and Reformation.
Ferdinand and Isabella
The Catholic Monarchs of Spain whose marriage united the country and financed Christopher Columbus’s voyages, leading to the discovery of the New World.
Protestant Reformation
A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the establishment of Protestant churches and significant changes in European society and politics.
Henry the Navigator
A Portuguese prince who sponsored voyages of exploration along the African coast, greatly contributing to the development of maritime trade routes.
Christopher Columbus
An Italian explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic in 1492 led to the European discovery of the Americas, initiating widespread exploration and colonization.
Treaty of Tordesillas
An agreement between Spain and Portugal in 1494 that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two nations, impacting colonial claims.
Slave Trade
The forced transportation and sale of Africans to the Americas, forming a key part of the triangular trade and having lasting social and economic impacts.
Nation-state
A political entity characterized by a defined territory and a permanent population, emerging in Europe during the Renaissance and influencing exploration.
Algonquian
A Native American language family and cultural group primarily found in the Northeast, known for their diverse societies and interactions with European settlers.
Siouan
A family of Native American languages spoken by tribes in the Great Plains, including the Lakota Sioux, reflecting their cultural and linguistic heritage.
Iroquois Confederation
A powerful alliance of six Native American tribes in the Northeast, known for their political organization and influence in colonial affairs.
Longhouses
Traditional dwellings of the Iroquois and other tribes, characterized by their elongated shape and communal living, reflecting their social structures.
John Cabot
An Italian explorer credited with the first European exploration of North America since the Vikings, claiming land for England in the late 15th century.
Jacques Cartier:
A French explorer known for his voyages to Canada, claiming the region for France and establishing the foundations for future French colonization.
Samuel de Champlain: A French explorer who founded Quebec and is known as the “Father of New France,” establishing a strong French presence in North America.
Henry Hudson
An English explorer known for his exploration of present-day Canada and New York, whose voyages laid the groundwork for Dutch colonization.
Bartolomé de Las Casas
A Spanish Dominican friar and historian who advocated for the rights of indigenous peoples and opposed the brutality of the encomienda system.
Valladolid Debate
A debate in 1550-1551 regarding the treatment of indigenous peoples in the Americas, highlighting differing views on colonization and human rights.
Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda
A Spanish philosopher who argued in favor of the justification of the conquest of indigenous peoples, contrasting with de Las Casas’s views.
