APUSH Period 1 KEY Terms

Maize (Corn) Cultivation

The agricultural practice of growing maize, which supported the development of various Native American societies by providing a stable food source.

Mississippians

A Native American culture known for its large earthen mounds and complex societies, particularly centered around the Mississippi River valley.

Matrilineal Society

A social system in which lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother rather than the father.

Iroquois Confederacy

A powerful alliance of six Native American nations in the Northeast that worked together for mutual defense and political objectives.

Pueblos

Native American communities known for their adobe dwellings, primarily found in the Southwestern United States.

Great Plains Native Americans

Tribes adapted to the Great Plains environment, often relying on buffalo for food, clothing, and materials.

Incas

A civilization in South America known for its advanced engineering and agricultural methods, including terrace farming.

Animism

The belief that non-human entities possess a spiritual essence, significant in many Native American cultures.

Aztecs

An influential Mesoamerican civilization known for its rich culture, architectural achievements, and the capital city of Tenochtitlan.

Bering Strait Land Bridge

A now-submerged land bridge that once connected Asia and North America, believed to be the migration route for early Native Americans.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, known for its impressive architecture and complex societal structures.

Cahokia

A major urban center of Mississippian culture, known for its large mounds and significant trade networks.

Five Nation Confederacy

Another name for the Iroquois Confederacy, highlighting the unification of the participating nations.

Three Sisters Farming Method

An agricultural technique involving the planting of maize, beans, and squash together to maximize yield and land use.

Buffalo

A key resource for many Native American tribes of the Great Plains, providing food, clothing, and tools.

Christopher Columbus

An explorer credited with 'discovering' the Americas for Europe on October 12, 1492.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe.

Search for New Sources of Wealth

Motivation for European exploration driven by the desire to find gold, silver, and new trade routes.

Economic & Military Competition

The rivalry between European powers that fueled exploration and colonial ambitions.

Desire to Spread Christianity

A religious motive behind European exploration, aiming to convert indigenous populations.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that promotes governmental regulation of a nation’s economy for augmenting state power.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the establishment of Protestant churches and reform of the Catholic Church.

Hernán Cortés

A Spanish conquistador known for his role in the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Conquistadores

Spanish explorers and conquerors who played a significant role in the colonization of the Americas.

Francisco Pizarro

A Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that conquered the Inca Empire.

Black Death

A devastating pandemic in the 14th century that led to significant social and economic changes in Europe.

Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century, instrumental for long voyages.

Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand

The monarchs of Spain who financed Columbus's 1492 voyage to the New World.

Hispaniola

An island in the Caribbean where Columbus first landed, home to indigenous Taíno peoples.

Requerimiento

A declaration by the Spanish crown demanding the submission of indigenous peoples to Spanish rule.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and diseases between the Americas and Europe.

Smallpox

A disease introduced by Europeans that had devastating effects on Native American populations during the Columbian Exchange.

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic slave trade that forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas.

Joint-stock Companies

Businesses that allowed multiple investors to share the risks and profits of exploration and colonization.

Population Growth in Europe

An increase in Europe's population resulting from new agricultural products introduced from the Americas.

Shift from Feudalism to Capitalism

A dynamic change in European economic structures fueled by wealth gained from the Americas.

Beasts of Burden

Animals such as horses and oxen that were introduced to the Americas, transforming labor practices.

Encomienda System

A labor system in which Spanish settlers were granted authority over indigenous populations to extract labor and tribute.

Middle Passage

The brutal journey of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas.

Casta System

A hierarchical system of racial classification in colonial Spain that determined social status.

Sugarcane

A major cash crop cultivated in the Americas, essential for the growing sugar trade.

Mestizo

A term used to describe individuals of mixed European and indigenous ancestry.

Repartimiento System

A labor system that replaced the encomienda, mandating indigenous labor for Spanish estates.

Potosí Silver Mines

The rich silver mines in present-day Bolivia, which were a major source of wealth for Spain.

Divergent Worldviews

The varying beliefs and practices between European and indigenous societies during colonization.

Assimilation

The process by which minority groups adopt the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture.

Bartolomé de las Casas

A Spanish Dominican friar who advocated for the rights of indigenous peoples and criticized exploitation.

Catholicism

The largest Christian denomination, which played a significant role in European exploration and colonization.

Juan Sepúlveda

A Spanish priest who argued for the justification of Spanish actions against indigenous peoples.

Valladolid Debates

A debate over indigenous rights and the morality of Spanish conquest, featuring Las Casas and Sepúlveda.

Three Sisters Farming Method

An agricultural practice of planting maize, beans, and squash together that promoted sustainability.