AP US History - Chapter 1: Colliding Worlds

1491-1600

60 million, 7 million

When the Europeans arrived, __________ people occupied the Americas, _________ of whom lived north of Mexico

Beringia

A 100-mile-wide land bridge that connected Siberia and Alaska during the last Ice Age and allowed the first Americans to travel from Asia to America

Aztecs

One of the prominent empires of the Americas. They controlled the fertile valleys in Mexico and their traders established widespread routes. Had a capital of Tenochitlan.

Tenochtitlàn

 The capital of the Aztec Empire. Was in the location of present day Mexico city and was established in 1325. Had a peak population of roughly 250,000 in 1500. Subjugated those around them in central Mexico, sacrificing their enemies to appease the sun god.

Incas

A great empire of the Americas, that lived in the 2,000 mile long Andes mountains, had a king that was considered to divine status

Cuzco

The capital of the Inca Empire, located more than 11,000 feet above sea level. Had a rough population of 60,000

maize agriculture

_______ drove populations upward across the American continents, allowing people to gather in large population centers.

Adena and Hopewell

Older cultures located in the Mississippi River Valley that flourished as maize agriculture spread, experiencing greater urban density.

Cahokia

A city in the fertile bottomlands along the Mississipi River that emerged around 1000 CE. Was the center of the regions culture and peaked at a population of around 10,000 in 1350 before rapidly declining. Had a powerful ruling class and worshipped the sun.

The Eastern Woodlands

Home to several different groups, many of whom also participated in maize agriculture but did not share many other similarities with their Mississippian counterparts

seasonal burning

A practice executed by those who lived in densely forested regions to clear the land, open fields, and make it easier to hunt big game

chiefdoms

a structure of government where one person claimed authority

paramount chiefdoms

a practice in which local chiefs banded together under a singular more powerful ruler. ex. The Powhatan Chiefdom

The Powhatan Chiefdom

A group which dominated the Chesapeake Bay Region. Consisted of 30+ subordinate chiefdoms and roughly 20,000 people

The Mid-Atlantic

A place with strictly local chiefs and many small independent communities rather than any united political organization.

Iroquois Confederacy

A confederacy of five nations occupying the modern day New York area that was one of the most powerful native groups in the North East. Lead by a council of sachems.

Anishinaabeg

Algonquian speaking peoples who dominated the great lakes, consisted of several groups such as the Ottawas, Ojibwas, and Potawatomis. Also had animal based clan associations, creating a complex political enviroment. Navigated the network of waterways easily with birchbark canoes, increasing mobility.

Comanches

A small group of Shoshone that migrated south in pursuit of horses. They became skilled raiders who came to control a large territory.

Sioux

A confederation of 7 distinct peoples that originated in modern-day Minnesota. Horses enabled them to move west and dominate a vast territory.

The Crow Indians

A group which moved from the Missouri River to just east of the Rocky Mountains and became nomadic bison hunters before the introduction of horses

Hidatsa and Mandan Indians

farming communities along the Missouri River who were primarily agricultural.

The Great Basin

an arid basin-and-range region surrounded by the Rocky and Sierra mountains that was scarce with resources. Occupied by Numic speaking hunters and gatherers, some of whom adopted horses and some who didn’t

The Pueblos

A combination of cultures in the Arid Southwest who surprisingly developed large farming settlements, mastering irrigation systems. Peoples included the Hohokams, Mogollons, and Anasazis, as well as the Acomas, Zunis, Tewas, and Hopis

The Pacific Coast

Home to many hunter gatherers, California alone was home to roughly 300,000 people before the spanish arrived and dozens of localized groups. The groups shared characteristics such as clear social hierarchies and what they ate.

The Pacific Northwest

Also supported a dense population with distinct groups. Societies were ruled by wealthy families. Powerful nations such as the Chinooks, Coast Salishes, Haidas, and Tlingits, nurtered strong warrior traditions to protect their territory. Made canoes from enormous cedar trees and longhouses.

regional trade networks in north america

allowed different groups access to resources that would otherwise be scarce due to differences in primary economic activity. Traded meat, food, home goods, as well as war captive slaves. Rare objects travelled further.

Generosity from Leadership

prized across north america was leaders who were willing to share their riches with their community from the Powhatan to the Chinook people

Native American Religion

Most people were animists who believed the natural world was suffused with spiritual power, placing value on dreams and visions. Many overarching rituals with local variations. Men valued hunting and war for spiritual power, women valued fertility.

Native American War

War was fought for both political and spiritual reasons, but was widely considered a rite of passage.

The Black Death

A plague in around 1350 that originated in Asia and killed 1/3 of the population

Green Corn Ceremony

A summer ritual among Native Americans meant to promote purification and renewal

hierarchy

heavily valued in all aspects of european society, monarchs ruled lords, lords ruled peasants, men ruled households

primogeniture

the practice of the first son inheriting everything

Peasants

Farmoworkers who worked for the nobility, one of the lowest groups in the European hierarchy

Italian City States

expanded trade with Arab Merchants in the mediterranean, africa, and near east, introducing luxuries to europe, creating profit. Ruled by councils of merchants.

The Renaissance

A time of enlightenment in art and sciences in Europe from 1300-1450

Western European Monarchies

with tension between the growing merchant class, they established courts and levyed taxes

Old European Beliefs

before christianity they followed animist practices, believing in the natural world with influence from pagan traditions of greece and rome.

Christianity

grew out of Jewish Monotheism, spread upon the conversion of Constantine. The Roman Catholic Church established itself as a major power in Europe.

The Crusades

A mission to combat Islam and prevent the spread of “false doctrines” Created new orders of nights and despite mostly failing militarily it gained access to trade routes along the Silk Road, introducing sugar.

The Reformation

started in 1517 with martin luther criticizing the catholic church for corruption in his 95 theses.

Martin Luther

A German Monk who criticized the church and translated the bible so any literate german could read it, sparking war with the church and northern germany.

John Calvin

A french theologian who founded protestantism based on the idea that those who go to heaven or hell are predetermined and that human existence was inherently sinful. Wrote his book in 1536

Counter-Reformation

The churches response to radicals such as Luther and Calvin, sought to change from within, creating new orders including the Jesuits (who believed themselves to be soldiers of Christ)

The Bible

What the Protestants believed was the true authority of faith rather than the clergy

Gold

Was the foundation of several West African Empires founded from Sudanic civilization. Ghana (the 800s), Mali (the 1200s), and Songhai (the 1400s). All of them relied on controlling trade

Prince Henry The Navigator

A Portuguese dude who jump started exploration and founded a school for navigation in the 1400s, promoting innovations in ships and allowing further travel. He allowed the Portuguese to establish trading posts in Africa and take over gold and slave trade from Arabs

Bartolomeu Dias

Rounded the cape of good hope in 1488

Vasco de Gama

Portuguese, reached East Africa in 1497 and India in 1498

African Slavery

A widespread practice in Africa, slaves were used as security for debt, sold for food, captured from war. A commodity sold to work on agriculture military or concubine. Some hereditary some not. Europeans discovered value after gold

Sonni Ali

Songhai emperor in the 15th century with 12 tribes of hereditary agriculture slaves

Christopher Columbus

Genoese explorer who petitioned the king and queen of Spain to find an Atlantic route to India, landed in the Bahamas in 1492. Despite this he didn’t find the promised fortune and died relatively unimportant in 1506

Native American Conquest

Made possible by the diseases brought by Europeans, decimating previously thriving populations. Also their lack of unity hurt them

Juan Ponce de Leon

Discovered Florida in 1513

Vasco de Núñez de Balboa

Crossed Panama and lead the first Europeans to see the Pacific Ocean in 1513

Hernan Cortes

In 1519 he lead 600 men to the Yucatán peninsula, gathered native allies, and marched on tenochtitlan. Aided by disease he conquered the Aztecs

Francisco Pizarro

Set out to conquer Incas in 1524 with 168 men and 67 horses, devastated the empire with disease and killed the last emperor, claiming his wealth

Pedro Alvarez Cabral

1500 was trying to sail around tip of Africa and landed in modern day Brazil

Ihla de Vera Cruz

What the Portuguese initially called Brazil. They set up plantations for sugar and other crops, using native labor and then African slaves, starting the plantation system

Bartolomé de las Casas

A spanish priest who criticized the colonization and subjugation of the Native populations by the Spanish.