Lecture on European Encounters with Native Americans

These flashcards are designed to help students review key concepts and facts from the lecture on European encounters with Native Americans, examining motivations for exploration, misconceptions about discovery, cultural differences, and the impact of disease.

What were the three Gs that historians refer to regarding European motivations for exploring the Americas?

God, glory, and gold.

What condition caused by a lack of vitamin C was a major issue for sailors crossing the Atlantic?

Scurvy.

What is primogeniture?

A European practice where the eldest son inherits all the family wealth.

How did Columbus mistakenly think he had reached India?

He was searching for a quicker trade route to Asia.

What misconception about discovery is associated with Columbus?

He did not discover the Americas as there were already people living there.

What evidence supports the idea that Native Americans were not a singular homogeneous group?

There were over 700 distinct Native American identities and at least 350 spoken languages.

What advances in medical practices were observed among the Inca compared to Europeans during Columbus's time?

The Inca were performing brain surgeries while Europeans had superstitions preventing them from conducting autopsies.

What is the Colombian Exchange?

The transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and Europe.

Why did Europeans lack the same understanding of land ownership as Native Americans?

Europeans viewed land as a commodity to be owned, while Native Americans saw it as something to be shared and revered.

What was the impact of smallpox on Native American populations after European contact?

Smallpox wiped out approximately 90% of the Native American population.

How did racism develop as a concept in relation to European encounters with Native Americans?

It emerged to justify the perceived superiority of Europeans as Native Americans died from diseases.

What term is used to describe the economic system that seeks to maximize exports and minimize imports?

Mercantilism.