Native American Societies and European Exploration

Flashcards covering key concepts related to Native American societies prior to 1492 and European exploration.

Diverse Cultures

Native American peoples organized themselves into various cultures depending on their geographic location before European contact.

Nomadic

Refers to groups of Native Americans who roamed the land as hunters and gatherers.

Tenochtitlan

The magnificent capital city of the Aztec civilization in central Mexico, which was home to about 300,000 people.

Encomienda System

A Spanish labor system that granted colonists the right to forced labor from Native Americans.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread exchange of food, animals, minerals, people, and diseases between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Mercantilism

The dominant economic system of Europe in the 16th to 18th centuries, based on governmental regulation of a nation's economy to enhance state power.

Joint-stock Companies

Business entities where different stocks can be bought and owned by shareholders, which facilitated European exploration.

Maya Civilization

A Mesoamerican culture known for its architecture, mathematics, and astronomical systems, centered in present-day Yucatán Peninsula.

Inca Empire

A powerful civilization in South America known for its unique architecture and agricultural systems, spanning the Andes mountains.

Human Sacrifice

A ritual practiced by the Aztecs as part of their religious ceremonies, involving the offering of human lives.