Meeting of Different Cultures

Flashcards covering the key concepts, events, and figures related to the meeting of different cultures, particularly focusing on the encounters among Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans.

What were the main factors that contributed to the changes among Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans during their encounters?

Political, economic, and religious systems.

Name three major American empires mentioned in the notes.

Maya, Aztecs, Inca.

What common feature characterized the empires of the Maya, Aztecs, and Incas?

Highly sophisticated organized political, religious, and military structures.

What was the primary economic activity of the Arctic-Inuit tribes?

Hunting and fishing.

What infrastructure did the Pueblos/Anasazis build?

Complex multi-storied adobe structures.

How did the Great Plains tribes' economic activities change after 1500?

They primarily hunted buffalo with horses.

What distinguished the political organization of North American societies?

Most were organized into self-governing tribes with councils of elders.

What were the economic systems of Native American societies based on?

Environment and geography, including hunting, gathering, and farming.

What type of religious practices did Native Americans generally follow?

Animism with variations by gender.

During the Middle Ages, who controlled the divided land in Europe?

Nobility.

What major event in Europe decimated the population during the Middle Ages?

The Black Death.

What movement began in 1517 that criticized the authority of the Church?

The Reformation initiated by Martin Luther.

What significant effect did commerce and nationalism have during this period?

Increased wealth and centralized authority in nation-states.

Who was Prince Henry the Navigator?

He opened trade routes to Africa and India and replaced Arabs as dominant slave traders.

What were the goals of Christopher Columbus's expeditions sponsored by Spain?

To seek gold, slaves, and commerce.

What significant action did the conquistadors take upon arriving in the Americas?

They brutally conquered and enslaved Native Empires.

What was the effect of the wealth extracted from the Americas on Spain?

Spain became the wealthiest nation on Earth.

What did Spain prohibit in response to the brutal conquests?

Brutal military conquests as outlined in the Ordinances of Discovery.

What were the main factors that contributed to the changes among Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans during their encounters?

Political, economic, and religious systems.

Name three major American empires mentioned in the notes.

Maya, Aztecs, Inca.

What common feature characterized the empires of the Maya, Aztecs, and Incas?

Highly sophisticated organized political, religious, and military structures.

What was the primary economic activity of the Arctic-Inuit tribes?

Hunting and fishing.

What infrastructure did the Pueblos/Anasazis build?

Complex multi-storied adobe structures.

How did the Great Plains tribes' economic activities change after 1500?

They primarily hunted buffalo with horses.

What distinguished the political organization of North American societies?

Most were organized into self-governing tribes with councils of elders.

What were the economic systems of Native American societies based on?

Environment and geography, including hunting, gathering, and farming.

What type of religious practices did Native Americans generally follow?

Animism with variations by gender.

During the Middle Ages, who controlled the divided land in Europe?

Nobility.

What major event in Europe decimated the population during the Middle Ages?

The Black Death.

What movement began in 1517 that criticized the authority of the Church?

The Reformation initiated by Martin Luther.

What significant effect did commerce and nationalism have during this period?

Increased wealth and centralized authority in nation-states.

Who was Prince Henry the Navigator?

He opened trade routes to Africa and India and replaced Arabs as dominant slave traders.

What were the goals of Christopher Columbus's expeditions sponsored by Spain?

To seek gold, slaves, and commerce.

What significant action did the conquistadors take upon arriving in the Americas?

They brutally conquered and enslaved Native Empires.

What was the effect of the wealth extracted from the Americas on Spain?

Spain became the wealthiest nation on Earth.

What did Spain prohibit in response to the brutal conquests?

Brutal military conquests as outlined in the Ordinances of Discovery.

What was the dominant socio-political system in Europe during the Middle Ages, characterized by land division and noble control?

Feudalism.

What was a major cause of death among Native American populations following European contact?

European diseases, such as smallpox.

Beyond seeking gold and slaves, what other primary motivations drove European exploration and conquest?

The desire for new trade routes, resources, and the spread of Christianity.

Describe the common political organization of many West African societies before significant European contact.

Complex kingdoms and empires, often with well-established trade networks and centralized authority.