Native American Cultures, European Exploration, and Early Colonial Encounters

What was the Iroquois Confederacy?

An alliance of six Native American nations: Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayuga, Seneca, and later the Tuscarora.

Who was Hiawatha?

A leader of the Iroquois who was a peacemaker and helped unite five nations.

How did Native Americans and Europeans differ in their land-clearing methods?

Native Americans used fire to quickly open land and maintain ecological balance, while Europeans cleared forests slowly through labor-intensive cutting.

What are the Five Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy?

Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca.

What was the significance of the Great Lakes region for Native Americans?

It featured lakes, rivers, forests, wildlife, and was important for fishing, hunting, seasonal gathering, and long-distance trade.

Describe the environment and agriculture of the Arid Southwest.

It was characterized by hot, dry desert with scarce water, relying on irrigation-based maize farming, pottery, and trade networks.

What cultural transformation occurred in the Great Plains and Rockies?

Nomadic buffalo hunting and horse trading became prevalent, with some groups farming near rivers; horses transformed their culture.

What was the lifestyle of the Pueblo peoples in the Pacific Coast?

They built adobe and stone villages, with a focus on fishing, gathering acorns, and trading luxury goods.

What is animism?

The belief that nature and animals have spirits.

What does primogeniture mean?

The practice where the eldest son inherits money and property.

What were the six reasons Africans held other Africans in slavery?

1) Security for debts, 2) War captives, 3) Concubines, 4) Agricultural labor, 5) Sold by family, 6) Military recruits.

What was the Reconquista?

The term for the Christian victory in Spain after over 700 years of conflict between Spanish Christians and Arab/Moorish Muslims.

What was the significance of the year 1492?

It marks the year Columbus sailed to the Caribbean, leading to European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Who was Bartolomeu Dias?

The explorer who accomplished a trip from Portugal to South Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

What did Martin Luther do that influenced the Protestant Reformation?

He posted the 95 Theses in 1517, criticizing indulgences and teaching that salvation comes through faith alone.

What was John Calvin's contribution to the Protestant Reformation?

He emphasized God's sovereignty and predestination, and built a strict Christian society in Geneva.

What was the Counter-Reformation?

The Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation, aimed at reforming the church and reaffirming its authority.

What did the Aztecs demand as tribute?

Gold, foods, feathers, and cacao.

What was the estimated population of Central Mexico upon the arrival of Europeans?

Approximately 20 million.

What was the importance of human sacrifice in Aztec culture?

It was believed to maintain the order of the universe.

What was the role of the horse in Malian society?

Aside from being a riding animal, it was a symbol of wealth and power.

What is a caravel?

A small, fast Portuguese sailing ship used for exploration.

What is a lateen sail?

A triangular sail that allowed ships to sail against the wind.

What were the main trade goods of the Aztec Empire?

Gold, obsidian, textiles, tropical feathers, turquoise, and cacao.

What was the Bering Strait?

The land bridge that existed during the ice age, connecting Alaska and Russia.

What were some traditions of Sudanic Africa?

Pottery, cotton weaving, copper and iron working, kingship, ancestor worship, and secret societies.

What were the major kingdoms of West Africa?

Ghana, Mali, and Songhai.