APUSH Period 1(1492-1607) Vocab

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, people, and goods between the Americas, Europe, and Africa after 1492. Significance: Changed diets, economies, and populations worldwide; European diseases killed millions of Native Americans.

Encomienda System

A Spanish colonial system that gave settlers the right to demand labor and tribute from Native Americans in exchange for supposed protection and Christianity. Significance: Led to the exploitation of Native Americans and helped Spain control its colonies.

Mestizo

A person of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry. Significance: Became a major part of Latin America's population and reflected cultural mixing during Spanish colonization.

Mercantilism

An economic system in which countries tried to increase wealth by exporting more than they imported and collecting valuable resources. Significance: Encouraged European countries to establish colonies to gain wealth and resources.

Joint-Stock Company

A company funded by multiple investors who share its profits and risks. Significance: Helped fund overseas exploration and the establishment of English colonies, such as Jamestown.

Spanish Mission System

A system of Catholic missions established by Spain to convert Native Americans to Christianity. Significance: Spread Christianity and Spanish culture while weakening Indigenous traditions and forcing many Native Americans into labor.

Pueblo Revolt (1680)

A rebellion by Pueblo Native Americans against Spanish rule in present-day New Mexico. Significance: Drove the Spanish out of New Mexico for about 12 years and demonstrated Native American resistance to colonization.

Atlantic World

The interconnected regions of Europe, Africa, and the Americas linked by trade, migration, and colonization. Significance: Created networks for exchanging goods, people, and ideas, including the transatlantic slave trade.

Native American Cultural Diversity

The wide variety of languages, traditions, governments, and lifestyles among Native American societies. Significance: Shows that Native Americans had distinct cultures and economies shaped by their environments.

Maize Agriculture

The cultivation of maize (corn), a major crop grown by many Native American societies. Significance: Supported population growth, permanent settlements, and complex societies in the Americas.

Bartolomé de las Casas

A Spanish priest who spoke out against the mistreatment and enslavement of Native Americans. Significance: Exposed Spanish colonial abuses and helped inspire debates about the treatment of Indigenous peoples.

Cahokia

A large Indigenous city near present-day St. Louis, built by the Mississippian culture. Significance: Demonstrated the advanced agriculture, trade, and social organization of Indigenous societies before European arrival.

Great Dying

The massive decline in the Native American population after European contact, mainly due to diseases. Significance: Weakened Indigenous societies and allowed Europeans to expand their control over the Americas.

European Exploration

European voyages to discover new trade routes, resources, and territories, especially during the 15th and 16th centuries. Significance: Led to European colonization, the Columbian Exchange, and increased competition between European powers.

Cultural Diffusion

The spread of ideas, beliefs, customs, and technologies between different cultures. Significance: Spread foods, religions, languages, and technologies between continents through exploration, trade, and colonization.