APUSH Period 1 Terms

Maize cultivation

This led to reliable food sources, high population density, and development of social structures. Also contributed to agricultural economy and permanent villages

Ex: 3 sister farming, terrace farming

Hunter-gatherer economy

Native American society where food is obtained from wild plants or animals instead of agriculture

Ex: Tribes of great plains & great basin

Northwest/CA Natives

Natives who relied on natural resources (seafood, forest) before European contact. Hunter-gatherer society.

Ex: Chumas, pomo, miwok

Columbian exchange

Transfer of goods, crops, and diseases between old and new world after 1492

New world introduced tobacco, maize, potatoes

Old world introduced cattle, horses, sugar cane, smallpox, and malaria

Plantation-based agriculture

System using slaves to produce cash crops (tobacco, sugar) to export; exploitation of labor for commercial agriculture

Ex: Barbados sugar plantations, africa rice plantations, tobacco and indigo plantations in the south

Maritime technology

Advancements in seafaring tools, allowing long distance exploration and trade during the age of exploration

Ex: Caravels, compass, lateen sail

Great Basin

Arid, cold desert region between rocky and sierra nevada mountains. NA’s had hunter-gatherer economy

Ex: Shoshone, Unte, Paiute, Washoe

Agricultural economy

Economy relying on farming, livestock, and agriculture

Ex: Pueblos, iroquois, cahokia; 3 sister farming

Spanish exploration

Voyages to America for god, gold, and glory

Ex: Cortez visiting aztecs, Coronado exploring grand canyon for gold

Encomienda system

Give native americans to colonists in return for promise to christianize them

Lead to decline of NA population due to mistreatment 

Joint stock companies

Short term partnership between multiple investors to fund a commercial enterprise. Used to fund England’s early ventures.

Deadly epidemics

Spread of this lead to many native american deaths during the columbian exchange

Great Plains

Flat central region of america. Natives had a nomadic lifestyle and a hunter gatherer economy. The introduction of horses led to more efficient ways of hunting buffalo here.

Permanent villages

Economy where people live in same location for extended periods due to stable agriculture and established social structures.

Ex: Aztecs, Incas, Mayans

Northeast Natives

Lived in eastern woodlands; had an agricultural society due to 3 sister farming

Ex: Iroquois, algonquin

Slave labor

forced labor and no payment by owners. Slaves were not seen as people, but chattel.

Feudalism to capitalism

Transition in europe from land based wealth to wealth based on investments and trade. Occured due to lack of land remaining and expansion to america.

Spanish caste system

Hierarchy based on racial background