Pre-Columbian Native American Civilizations and European Conquest

What are the common characteristics of the Aztec, Inca, and Maya civilizations?

Complex societies, sophisticated agriculture, polytheistic religions, settled lifestyles, and monarchies.

What was the primary lifestyle of the Aztecs?

They were hunter-gatherers in Mesoamerica.

What was the primary lifestyle of the Mayans?

They were primarily agricultural in Mesoamerica.

What was the primary lifestyle of the Incas?

They were agricultural in South America.

How did climate and resources influence Native American societies?

Warmer/wetter climates supported agriculture and permanent settlements, while harsher climates led to nomadic lifestyles and hunter-gatherer societies.

What type of housing was common in the Mississippi Valley?

Settled communities with mound-building and pottery.

What agricultural practices characterized the Eastern Woodlands?

Semi-nomadic practices including maize, bean, and squash agriculture in summer, and hunting/fishing/gathering in winter.

What were the major patterns of trade in pre-Columbian North America?

River and coastal trade using large canoes, and trans-Saharan trade involving goods like copper, gold, salt, and slaves.

What were common trade goods in pre-Columbian North America?

Food, raw materials, tools, ritual artifacts, and decorative goods.

What were Columbus's motives for exploring the Americas?

Competition, wealth, spreading Christianity, exploration, and personal glory.

Who funded Columbus's expedition?

Spanish rulers Ferdinand and Isabella.

What was Columbus's goal during his voyage?

To find a quicker trade route to the Indies for spices and goods.

What was the impact of the Columbian Exchange on the New World?

Population increase from European emigration, introduction of new food staples, and significant Native population decline due to disease.

What diseases significantly affected Native American populations after European contact?

Diseases such as smallpox, which killed 50-80% of Native people.

What animals were introduced to the New World that influenced agriculture and warfare?

Pigs, goats, sheep, cattle, chickens, horses, and oxen.

What food staples were introduced to Europe from the New World?

Maize, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, chili peppers, cocoa, and tobacco.

What strategies did Spain use to conquer the Aztec, Inca, and Mayan empires?

Superior weapons and technology, introduction of disease, and forming alliances with local groups.

What features characterized Spanish America after conquest?

Catholicism, African and Native slavery (encomienda), a rigid social structure, and hostility towards Natives.

What was the encomienda system?

A system that allowed Spanish colonists to demand labor from Native Americans and enslaved Africans.

What was the significance of the Mississippi Valley in pre-Columbian America?

It was characterized by settled communities, mound-building, and a dense population supported by agriculture.

What languages were spoken by the peoples of the Eastern Woodlands?

Algonquian and Iroquoian.

How did the environment shape the lifestyle of peoples in the Arid Southwest?

They developed water systems to utilize scarce resources and adapted to a more nomadic lifestyle.