Unit I Terms Flashcards
Encomienda System
Under the encomienda system, conquistadors and other leaders (encomenderos) received grants of a number of Indians, from whom they could exact “tribute” in the form of gold or labor. The encomenderos were supposed to protect and Christianize the Indians granted to them, but they most often used the system to effectively enslave the Indians and take their lands.
Legally extracting labour from sedentary populations. Weren’t slaves, but compelled by law to surrender a certain about of labour, produce or military service (like serfs).
Bartolomé de Las Casas
Bartolomé de Las Casas arrived in Hispaniola, in the Caribbean, in 1502 with a land grant, ready to seek his fortune. Las Casas renounced his land grant, released his slaves, and returned to Rome to take his religious vows. He returned to Hispaniola in 1512 as the first ordained priest in the Americas and denounced the Spanish exploitation of the Indians and the military conquest of the New World.
Pre-Columbian groups: Pueblo
Pueblo: Lived in areas that are part of the current southwestern US. Lived in small towns, pueblos. Developed complex, technologically advanced societies. Climate change forced them to disperse, leading to conflict. Communities were weakened by the Great Migration on the eve of European Contact.
Spanish Colonies
The Spanish were more focused on converting natives to Christianity and acquiring labour force from the Native Americans. Colonies were tightly controlled by the Spanish Crown. Had complex social hierarchy based on how much Spanish blood on had. Spanish colonies were, for the most part, in Central America. Demographics: mostly men coming over.
French Colonies
French colonies were mostly in Canadian territory and Western US – the Great Basin to New Orleans. Their colonies were used as trade posts, very few people lived there. Therefore, the French were required to maintain better relationships with the Native Americans (compared to other European countries). French and natives combined some communities and got along well. Children of frenchmen and native women were called Metis. Demographics: mostly men.
Dutch Colonies
The dutch used their colonies, like the French, as trading post, more than anything else. Struggled to form permanent communities because of rivalries with European powers, ruining them. Colonies were mainly in the Caribbean and South America. Funded by the Dutch East India Company and relied heavily on slavery.
Pre-Columbian groups: Algonquian
Lived along the east coast of present-day US. Hunted, fished, and grew corn. Colder climate tended to make agriculture impractical, so relied on hunting and fishing the most.
Native American Societies
Southwest: maize cultivation, economic development and social diversification (ie. Pueblo People).
Great Basin and Great Plains: tended to develop mobile lifestyles in response to lack of natural resources (ie. Shoshone People).
East: developed mix of agricultural and hunter-gatherer economies, fostered permanent settlements (ie. Algonquian Peoples, Iroquois).
Pacific Northwest: experiences economic development and social diversification, mix of foraging and hunting, supported themselves by the Pacific ocean and the rivers (ie. Chinook Peoples).
Treaty of Torsedillas
Made in 1494, settled competing claims of Portugal and Spain to the newly explored lands outside Europe – Portugal granted lands to the east (Africa, Brazil), Spain to the west (rest of the Americas). Secured Spain a dominent role in the New World.
John White
Founded the lost colony of Roanoke.
