Exploration and Discovery

3 Gs

Gold, Glory, and God - the primary motives for European exploration and colonization. Gold refers to wealth, Glory indicates national pride and personal fame, and God represents the desire to spread Christianity.

corn

A staple crop native to the Americas. Played a vital role in agriculture for Indigenous peoples, and became a significant food source and trade item after European contact.

Horses

Brought to the Americas by Europeans. Transformed transportation and hunting practices among various Indigenous tribes. Impacted the social and economic structures of these communities.

Disease

Many Indigenous populations were devastated by diseases brought by Europeans, such as smallpox and measles. Caused dramatic declines in Indigenous populations and societal structures.

Encomienda system

A Spanish labor system in the Americas. Granted colonists the right to use Indigenous people for labor in exchange for protection and Christian education. Led to exploitation and abuse.

Asiento system

A Spanish system that regulated the importation of enslaved Africans to the Americas. Allowed Spanish colonists to import slaves to replace the declining Indigenous labor force.

Slavery in New World

The forced labor of African slaves in the Americas. Integral to the economic systems of plantations and mining, and introduced significant social changes.

Land bridge

A landmass that connected Asia and North America during the last Ice Age. Allowed the migration of early humans into the Americas.

Adena-Hopewell

Cultures known for their earthworks and mound-building in the Ohio River Valley. Advanced societies that engaged in trade and had complex social structures.

Hokokam

An ancient civilization in the Southwestern United States. Known for their advanced irrigation systems and agriculture, particularly in arid regions.

Anasazi

An ancient Native American culture in the Four Corners region. Known for cliff dwellings and complex societies that relied on agriculture and trade.

Pueblos

Native American communities in the Southwestern United States. Known for their adobe houses and unique cultural practices.

Woodland mound builders

Indigenous cultures in North America known for constructing burial mounds. Engaged in agriculture, trade, and had complex societal structures.

Lakota Sioux

A Native American tribe in the Great Plains. Known for their nomadic lifestyle, hunting bison, and resistance against European expansion.

Mayas

An ancient civilization in Mesoamerica. Known for their advanced writing, mathematics, architecture, and astronomical knowledge.

Incas

A powerful civilization in South America, known for their extensive empire and sophisticated agricultural techniques, as well as monumental architecture.

Aztecs

A major civilization in central Mexico known for their large empire, rich culture, and human sacrifices as part of religious ceremonies.

Conquistadores

Spanish conquerors who explored and colonized large areas of the Americas. Known for their expeditions and the fall of Indigenous empires.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish Conquistador known for leading the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire. Significant figure in the early Spanish colonization of Mexico.

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish Conquistador responsible for conquering the Inca Empire. His actions led to significant changes in governance and society in Peru.

New Laws of 1542

Spanish regulations aimed at protecting Indigenous peoples from exploitation. Limited the powers of encomenderos and addressed abuses in labor systems.

Roanoke

The first English settlement in America, established in 1585. Its mysterious disappearance remains a historical mystery.

New inventions

Advancements such as the compass, caravel ships, and improved mapmaking that facilitated long-distance exploration during the Age of Discovery.

Ferdinand and Isabella

The Catholic Monarchs of Spain who sponsored Columbus' voyages. Their reign marked the beginning of Spain's global exploration and colonization.

Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who was instrumental in the early days of the Portuguese Empire and the Age of Discoveries. Sponsored explorations along the African coast.

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. Known for opening the Americas to European colonization in 1492.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal, dividing newly discovered lands outside Europe. Allowed for the establishment of colonies and trade routes.

Slave trade

The transatlantic system that transported millions of Africans to the Americas for forced labor. A key part of the economy in colonial America.

Nation-state

A political entity characterized by a defined territory and sovereignty. Emerged in Europe during the Renaissance, leading to modern nation-states.

Algonquian

A group of Indigenous tribes in North America speaking related languages. Had complex societies with distinct cultures across the northeastern region.

Iroquois Confederation

A historically powerful alliance of six Native American nations in the northeastern U.S. Known for their democratic governance and military strength.

Longhouses

Traditional dwellings used by some Native American tribes, especially in the Northeast. Built to house multiple families, reflecting communal living.

John Cabot

An Italian explorer who sailed under the English flag. Credited with exploring parts of North America in 1497, paving the way for later English claims.

Jacques Cartier

French explorer known for his voyages to Canada in the 1530s. Played a key role in establishing French claims in North America.

Samuel de Champlain

French explorer known as the 'Father of New France.' Established Quebec and was instrumental in French exploration and colonization.

Henry Hudson

An English sea explorer known for his explorations of Canada and parts of North America. His voyages laid the groundwork for future New Netherland settlements.

Bartolomé de Las Casas

Spanish Dominican friar and missionary who advocated for the rights of Indigenous peoples. Criticized Spanish treatment of natives and the encomienda system.

Valladolid Debate

A debate in Spain during the 1550s concerning the treatment of Indigenous peoples. Involved key figures like Las Casas and Sepulveda.

Juan Gines de Sepulveda

Spanish philosopher who argued against Las Casas. Supported the view that Indigenous peoples were inferior and justified their subjugation.

Nomads

People who move from place to place rather than settling permanently. Early human societies often lived as nomads, hunting and gathering for survival.

Hunter-gatherers

Societies that subsist by hunting animals and gathering wild plants. They existed before the rise of agriculture.

Mesoamerica

A historical region in the Americas that includes present-day Mexico and Central America. Home to ancient civilizations like the Maya and Aztec.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, located on an island in Lake Texcoco. Known for its complex urban planning and impressive architecture.

Montezuma

The last emperor of the Aztec Empire who ruled during the Spanish conquest. His encounter with Cortes marked a pivotal moment in history.

Polytheistic

Belief in multiple gods. Many ancient civilizations, including the Aztecs and Incas, practiced polytheism and had rich mythologies.

Gold Coast

A region in West Africa known for its gold resources. Played a significant role in the transatlantic slave trade and European exploration.

San Salvador

The first land sighted by Christopher Columbus in the New World. Represents the start of European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Hispaniola

An island in the Caribbean first encountered by Columbus. It became a significant site for Spanish colonization and economic exploitation.

Northwest Passage

A hypothetical sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic. Sought after as a shortcut for trade by Europeans.

Mestizos

People of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry in Latin America. Emerged as a distinct social class during the colonial period.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the New World and Old World following Columbus' voyages. Had profound effects on both regions.

Mississippians

A Native American culture known for their mound-building and complex societies in the Mississippi River Valley. Engaged in agriculture and trade.

North American Indians-gender roles, society, war & politics, religion

Diverse roles and social structures among Indigenous tribes. Gender roles varied widely, influencing their societies, political structures, and traditional beliefs.

Norse Voyages

Exploration of North America by Vikings, notably Leif Erikson, around 1000 AD. Established short-lived settlements in areas like Newfoundland.

African societies

Diverse cultures and civilizations in Africa, each with unique social structures, economies, and traditions. Involved in trade networks, including the transatlantic slave trade.

European Societies

Social structures and cultures of Europe pre- and post-exploration. Characterized by feudalism, religion, and rapidly changing political landscapes during the Renaissance.

Effects of the Plague

The Black Death drastically reduced Europe's population. Led to social, economic, and religious changes, influencing exploration as labor became scarce.

motives for exploration

Key reasons include the pursuit of wealth, the spread of Christianity, and the desire for national prestige. These factors led to significant global changes.

lessons of early colonization

Early colonization often resulted in conflict, disease, and exploitation. Important lessons regarding Indigenous rights and sustainable practices emerged from these experiences.

Juan Ponce de Leon

Spanish explorer known for searching for the Fountain of Youth in Florida. His expeditions contributed to Spanish knowledge and claims in the Americas.

Hernan de Soto

Spanish Conquistador known for his expedition through the southern United States. Played a role in early exploration and interactions with Native American tribes.

Thomas Harriot, Briefe and True Report

A publication by Harriot detailing early experiences in Virginia. Offered insights into Native American life and the challenges of colonization.

Jesuits in New France

Catholic missionaries who played a crucial role in the evangelization of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Known for their educational and cultural exchanges.

Maize

A vital crop in pre-Columbian America. Central to the diet of many Indigenous tribes and became a staple in European diets after contact.

Pope’s Rebellion

A 1680 uprising of Pueblo people against Spanish colonial rule in New Mexico. Aimed to restore Indigenous culture and resist forced conversions.