Studied by 7 people
Period 1
The time before and during early European exploration and colonization of the Americas (1491-1607).
Southwest Settlements
Notable for complex societies and irrigation systems.
Northwest Settlements
Known for fishing and totem poles; rich in natural resources.
Great Plains
Primarily nomadic tribes that relied on buffalo hunting.
Midwest Settlements
Included mound-building cultures like the Adena-Hopewell.
Northeast Settlements
Home to tribes such as the Iroquois Confederacy, known for longhouses and agriculture.
Southeast Settlements
Agricultural societies focused on maize and other crops.
Columbian Exchange
Exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the Old World and the New World (early 1500s to early 1800s).
Encomienda System
A labor system rewarding Spanish colonists with the labor of indigenous people (1503-1542).
Mercantilism
Economic theory that trade generates wealth, leading to colonial expansion (1500s-early 1800s).
Triangular Trade
Trade system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas involving slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods (1500s-1800s).
Middle Passage
The sea route taken by slave ships from West Africa to the Americas (1500s-1800s).
Corn/Maize
A staple crop significant to the diet in the Americas.
Three Sisters Farming
Agricultural technique involving planting corn, beans, and squash together for mutual benefits.
Beringia
Land bridge connecting Asia and North America, facilitating migration.
Adena-Hopewell
Known for earthworks and burial mounds in the Midwest.
Anasazi Pueblos
Cliff dwellers in the Southwest known for advanced architecture.
Lakota Sioux
Nomadic tribe of the Great Plains known for their horse culture.
Mayans, Incas, Aztecs
Advanced civilizations in Mesoamerica with achievements in agriculture, architecture, and governance.
Conquistadors
Spanish explorers and conquerors seeking wealth and territory.
Christopher Columbus
Credited with the European discovery of the Americas in 1492.
Ferdinand and Isabella
Spanish monarchs who sponsored Columbus's voyages.
Henry the Navigator
Portuguese prince who promoted exploration.
Treaty of Tordesillas
Agreement dividing newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.
Nation-State
Emergence of centralized governments in Europe seeking territorial expansion.
Iroquois Confederacy
Political alliance of several tribes in the Northeast known for democratic governance.
Feudalism
Social system in medieval Europe influencing early colonial structures.
Capitalism
Economic system that emerged in Europe, driving exploration and colonization.
Casta System
Social hierarchy in Spanish colonies based on race and ethnicity.
Valladolid Debate
Discussion on the treatment of indigenous peoples and the morality of colonization.
Bartolomé de Las Casas
Advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples.
Juan Gines de Sepulveda
Opponent of Las Casas, argued for the justification of conquest.
Compass
Instrument that improved navigation during the Age of Exploration.
Caravel
A type of ship that allowed for longer voyages and exploration.
Matrilineal Societies
Societies where lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother.
Fur Trade
Economic activity involving the exchange of fur, particularly by French coureurs de bois with Native Americans.
Note 
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