Key Terms from AP United States History Lecture

Flashcards covering key terms from the AP United States History lecture on the themes of exchange, identity, politics, labor systems, and exploration.

Mayas

An ancient Mesoamerican civilization known for their sophisticated culture, including advancements in mathematics, astronomy, and agriculture.

corn (maize)

A staple crop for many Native American societies, particularly the Mayas and Aztecs, significant in their agriculture and diet.

encomienda system

A labor system instituted by the Spanish during colonization, allowing colonists to demand labor from Indigenous peoples.

asiento system

A Spanish system that regulated the slave trade, granting permission to import enslaved Africans.

migration

The movement of people from one place to another, significant in the context of early human populations reaching the Americas.

Hernan Cortés

Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador who initiated the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire.

New Laws of 1542

Laws enacted in Spain to protect the Indigenous peoples from exploitation and abuse by colonists.

slave trade

The business of capturing, transporting, and selling enslaved people, which became a major economic activity in the Americas.

Iroquois Confederation

A political alliance of several Native American tribes in the northeastern United States, known for their democratic form of governance.

Bartolomé de Las Casas

A Spanish Dominican friar who became an advocate for the rights of Native Americans and criticized Spanish treatment of Indigenous peoples.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the creation of Protestant churches and significant changes in European society.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands outside of Europe between them.

nation-state

A political entity characterized by a defined territory, permanent population, and a stable government.

conquistadores

Spanish explorers and conquerors who were involved in the conquest of Latin America.

Atlantic Trade

The system of trade that involved the exchange of goods, slaves, and raw materials between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.