Period one key vocabulary

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and their definitions from the lecture notes.

Staple crop

A food that is a primary source of nutrition for a people, making up a large part of their diet.

Inquisition

A religious investigation by the Catholic Church where clergy interrogate heretics and sinners.

Franciscan

A member of a Roman Catholic religious order founded in the early 13th century by St. Francis of Assisi.

Ferdinand II of Aragon

King of Aragon and co-ruler of Spain from 1479 until his death in 1516.

Inca

The civilization that created the Inca empire, which spread from modern-day Colombia to Chile.

Pueblo

Native Americans in the Southwestern U.S. who share common agricultural, material, and religious practices.

Isabella of Castille

Queen of Castille and Aragon who unified Spain and empowered the Spanish Inquisition.

Renaissance

A cultural and intellectual movement that began in 15th-century Italy and spread across Europe.

Mission systems

Systems established by the Spanish where missionaries directed new settlements.

Columbian exchange

The exchange of diseases, ideas, food, crops, and populations between the New World and the Old World.

King Charles I

King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1625 to 1649.

Casta system

A hierarchy created by Spaniards to classify individuals based on ethnicity.

Caravel

A swift sailing ship used by the Spanish and Portuguese for long voyages.

Atlantic World

The social and economic network connecting Europe, West Africa, and the Americas.

Christopher Columbus

Italian navigator who discovered the Americas while searching for a westward route to Asia.

Missionaries

Members of a religious group sent to promote Christianity, often prohibiting Native American beliefs.

Chinampas

An irrigation system used by the Aztecs involving artificially built islands.

Astrolabe

A tool used by sailors to calculate latitude during the 15th and 16th centuries.

Capitalism

An economic system where private actors own and control property and exchange.

Feudalism

A social and economic system where higher classes hold power over lower classes in exchange for loyalty.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztecs located in present-day Mexico City.

Malintzin (Dona Marina)

A translator for Hernando Cortez, originally captured and given as a peace offering.

Maya

Inhabitants of the Yucatan Peninsula with a civilization known for advancements in various fields.

Slavery

The condition in which one individual is held under the control of another and is forced to work.

Encomienda

A labor system where Spanish conquistadors controlled Native Americans as laborers.

Tribute

A payment made as an act of gratitude or respect to someone of higher status.

Valladolid Debate

A debate on the morality of enslaving Natives, initiated by King Charles I of Spain.

Aztecs

A powerful Native American tribe in Mexico known for their advanced civilization and religious practices.

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers and conquerors active in the 16th century who subjugated Native populations.

Montezuma

Aztec emperor known for his confrontation with Spanish conquistadors, murdered in 1520.

Requerimiento

A colonial document requiring conquistadores to read to Natives to justify their actions.

Hernán Cortes

A Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec empire.

Francisco Pizarro

A Spanish conquistador best known for conquering the Inca Empire.