Indigenous Americans and Europeans Setttlers.

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer who sailed west from Spain in 1492 seeking a direct route to Asia.

1492

The year Christopher Columbus sailed and reached lands unknown to Europeans.

Arab traders

Merchants who brought goods like silk and spices from Asia to Europe.

Venice

Major trade center in Europe where goods were sold.

Ottoman Turks

Conquerors of Constantinople in 1453 that disrupted traditional trade routes.

Direct route to Asia

The goal of European exploration to find a safer and cheaper path avoiding Muslim-controlled lands.

Portugal

The first European country to actively search for new routes to Asia.

Trading ports

Locations established by Portugal along Africa’s west coast for trade.

Wine, Guns, Horses

Goods traded by Portugal primarily in exchange for African slaves and gold.

Sugar plantations

Farms where African slaves were sent to work on various islands.

Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands

Islands colonized by Portugal and Spain that hosted sugar plantations.

Maritime technology

Advancements in ships and navigation tools that improved European exploration.

Caravel

Light, fast, and highly maneuverable ship invented by Portuguese mariners.

Lateen sails

Special sails that enabled caravels to sail against the wind.

Azores

Islands discovered by Portuguese sailors in 1420, becoming an important stopover.

Navigation tools

Instruments like better maps, magnetic compass, and mariner’s astrolabe used to assist sailors.

Bartholomeu Dias

First European to sail around the southern tip of Africa.

Vasco da Gama

First European to reach India by sea.

Prince Henry the Navigator

Established the first navigation school and sponsored expeditions along Africa's coast.

Ferdinand of Aragon, Isabella of Castile

Monarchs who united Spain and funded Columbus's voyages.

800 years of Muslim rule

Period in Spain ended in 1492 by Ferdinand and Isabella's forces.

Acceptance of Columbus

Spain supported Columbus after wanting to compete with Portugal for Asian wealth.

Caribbean

Region where Columbus landed, mistakenly believing it was Asia.

Hero vs. Villain

Debate surrounding Columbus's legacy as either a conqueror or an explorer.

Bahamas

The location where Columbus first landed on October 12, 1492.

Indians

The name Columbus gave to the indigenous peoples, based on his belief he reached Asia.

Gold

Resource found by Columbus in Hispaniola that pleased Spanish monarchs and led to more voyages.

Hispaniola

The island where Columbus established a small settlement and found gold.

La Malinche

Enslaved woman who became Cortés's interpreter and advisor during his conquest.

Atahuallpa

Last Inca emperor captured and executed by Pizarro.

Cajamarca

Site of surprise attack by Pizarro on the Inca.

Encomienda system

Labor system that granted Spanish officers land and native workers.

Po'pay's Rebellion

Pueblo revolt against Spanish missionaries in 1680.

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of crops, livestock, and diseases between the Old World and New World.

Mestizos

People of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry.

Mulatto

People of mixed European and African ancestry.

Zambo

People of mixed African and Indigenous ancestry.

Smallpox epidemic

Disease that devastated Indigenous populations after European contact.

Missionaries

Religious figures who aimed to convert Indigenous peoples to Christianity.

Spanish influence

Expansion of Spanish culture and claims through missions.

Drought

Environmental condition that weakened Pueblo forces following their revolt.

Military forts

Presidios established to protect Spanish colonies.

Forced conversions

Imposition of Christianity on Indigenous peoples often through violence.

Cultural disruption

Suppression of Indigenous cultures and practices in favor of European customs.

Christianization

Efforts to convert Indigenous populations to Christianity as a justification for colonialism.

Cortez

Conquistador responsible for the conquest of the Aztecs.

Tenochtitlán

The Aztec capital that fell to Cortés in 1521.

Greed and Betrayal

Cortés's actions in Tenochtitlán that led to the Aztec uprising.

La Noche Triste

The night of the Spanish attempted escape from Tenochtitlán, resulting in heavy losses.

Cuzco

Inca capital that was looted by Pizarro.

Lima

City founded by Pizarro in 1535 that became the capital of Peru.

Sericulture

The cultivation of silkworms for silk production, vital for trade.

Tobacco

A highly profitable crop that was exchanged in the Columbian Exchange.

Cotton

Another significant crop in the trade between the Old and New Worlds.

Sugarcane

Crops brought to the New World that became a key economic driver.

Atlantic Slave Trade

Forced transportation of African slaves to the Americas for labor.

Imperialism

Policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization.

Aboriginal rights

Rights that pertain to the Indigenous peoples before the arrival of colonizers.

Ecological imperialism

The practice of colonizers exploiting the resources of newly acquired lands.

Colonization

The act of settling among and establishing control over the Indigenous peoples.

Settler colonialism

A form of colonialism where settlers come to stay and establish permanent residence.

Transculturation

The process of cultural transformation marked by the influx of new cultural elements.

Syncretism

The combination of different forms of belief or practice, often seen in religious contexts.

Spanish Colonial Rule

The period where Spain claimed control over vast territories in the Americas.

Spaniards

People of Spanish origin who settled and colonized parts of the Americas.

Colonial powers

Nations that have colonies and exert control over territories and peoples.

Plantation agriculture

Farming system focused on large-scale cultivation of cash crops, often using slave labor.

Cargo cults

Religious movements that arose among Indigenous peoples after exposure to European colonizers.

Metacolonialism

Complex responses and adaptations of colonized peoples to colonial conditions.

Cultural assimilation

The process by which a minority group adopts the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture.

Ethnoference

The act of imposing one's own cultural beliefs onto another.

Cultural hegemony

Dominance of one cultural group over others, maintaining control through ideology.

Land dispossession

The act of taking or seizing land from the Indigenous peoples.

Immunological impact

Effects on Indigenous populations due to exposure to European diseases.

Colonial exploitation

Utilization of colonized regions for economic gain at the expense of local populations.

Decentralization

Distribution of functions and powers away from a central location or authority.

Indigenous sovereignty

Right of Indigenous peoples to self-determination and governance over their lands.

Colonial historiography

Study of history through the lens of colonial narratives and perspectives.

Cultural resilience

The ability of a culture to maintain its core values and practices in the face of adversity.

Intercolonial relations

The interactions and relationships between different colonies.

Historical memory

The collective remembrance of historical events by a society, influencing identity.

Reparations

Compensation given for injustices or wrongs, particularly towards Indigenous peoples.

Cultural preservation

Efforts to maintain and protect cultural heritage, traditions, and practices.

Postcolonial studies

Academic field examining the effects and legacy of colonialism.

Globalization

The process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or operate on an international scale.

Diaspora

The dispersion of any people from their original homeland.

Racial dynamics

Interrelated social and power relations that arise from race.

Ethnic stratification

Hierarchy that organizes different ethnic groups based on social status.

Cultural diffusion

The spread of cultural beliefs and social activities from one group to another.

Legal status of Indigenous peoples

The recognition and rights afforded to Indigenous populations under national laws.

Assimilation policies

Approaches aimed at integrating Indigenous peoples into the dominant culture.

Land reclamation

The process of restoring the ownership of land to Indigenous peoples.

Land trust

A legal arrangement wherein land is held for the benefit of a specific group.

Preservation efforts

Tasks directed towards maintaining and safeguarding Indigenous languages and traditions.

Social justice

Justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.

Decolonization

The process of undoing colonialism, where a country gains independence.

Autonomy

The right of a group to govern itself and make its own decisions.

Cultural identity

The identity of a group that stems from shared cultural elements, including language, traditions, and beliefs.

Migration patterns

Trends and movements of people from one place to another.

Ecological impact

Effect of human activity on the environment and ecosystems.