Unit 1

Albany (Ft. Orange)

First permanent Dutch settlement in the New World (New Netherlands)

Aztecs/Incas

Native American advanced civilizations dominating Northern (Aztec) and Central (Inca) Latin America at the time of conquest.

Bartolome de Las Casas

16th century Spanish historian and social reformer, known for his protest of the treatment of Native Americans during conquest.

Beaver Wars

Territorial dispute over fur-rich areas between the Iroquois and the French-backed Great Lakes tribes (Algonquin).

Bering Strait Land Bridge

Route first hunter-gatherer nomad civilizations used to cross the Bering Strait (Russia to Alaska) following migrating herds.

Black Legend

The villification of the Spanish Empire due to its imperialist goals and methods of conquest (in part due to the works of Las Casas).

Caravel

A small, fast ship designed by the Portuguese with the purpose of increased maneuverability.

Casta System

Social, political, and economic hierarchy in Spanish Latin America with peninsulares at the top and negros / Native Americans at the bottom.

Causes of European Exploration

Three G's, Pursuit of the West Indies

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer / navigator to whom the "discovery" of the New World in 1492 is credited after failing to reach his intended destination of Japan.

Columbian Exchange

Transatlantic shipment / exchange of people, goods, and diseases. Horses, cows, sugar, silver, smallpox, corn, potatoes, etc.

Conquistadors

15th century Spanish "Conquerors" (Cortez)

Cortes/Pissarro (occupation / people)

Conquistadores - Aztecs / Incas

Couriers de Bois

Independent trapper and trader that roamed the woods seeking trade with Native Americans.

Dutch East India Company

Multinational company that dominated the international Spice trade.

Fur Trade

Primary economic pillar of colonial Native American culture. Adopted, prioritized, and exploited by the French and Dutch as a major import / export.

Hacienda/Encomienda system

Spanish system of "commending", or giving, Indians to certain colonists in return for the promise to Christianize them. Part of a broader Spanish effort to subdue Indian tribes in the West Indies and on the North American mainland.

Iroquois

Native American nation in the Great Lakes / upstate New York region. Aligned with Dutch in Beaver Wars against the Huron and the French.

Jesuits

Religious French missionaries in the Great Lakes region who attempted to convert the Huron Indians. Less aggressive conversion style than the Spanish Franciscans.

King Ferdinand and Isabella

Catholic Spanish monarchs, responsible for authorizing the expedition of Columbus.

Mercantilism

Belief that trade generates wealth for the mother country.

Mestizo

Mixed race individual (Spaniard / Native American)

Mission System (Spanish)

System of mission work that incorporated both aggressive religious and social-cultural conversion.

Mulatto

Mixed race individual (black / white)

New Amsterdam

Settlement at present day New York City, NY (New Netherlands)

New France

Area colonized by France in North America, including parts of present day Canada extending south to the Ohio River Valley.

Northwest Passage

Sought after sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through northwestern North America.

peninsular

Latin American colonists born in Spain.

Portugal/Prince Henry

Empire known for seafaring and navigating. Prince Henry opened navigation schools which paved the way for the Age of Exploration.

Pueblo

Southwest North American native civilizations (i.e. Hopi, Zuni, etc.) known for living in villages

Pueblo Revolt

Native American (Pueblo) uprising against the Spanish in (present-day) New Mexico

Silk/Spice Trade

Vast network of trade (Silk Road) throughout the Middle East and Asia used to transport silk and spice to Europe.

Spanish Missionaries

Franciscan Catholics with an aggressive conversion style (contrary to French Jesuits)

St. Augustine

Oldest continuously occupied settlement in North America (Florida). Established by Spain.

Three G's

God, gold, glory. Motivations for exploration.

West Indies

Center of Sugar production. Used as a port location for Caribbean trade, slave markets, etc.