Native American Cultures and the Colonial Period Vocabulary

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical concepts, and definitions across Lessons 1 through 7.

Confederacy

An alliance for mutual support or common actions

Mesoamerica

The region that today includes central and southern Mexico and the nations of Central America

Columbian Exchange

The exchange and interaction of crops, animals, plants, culture, populations, and diseases brought by Europeans to the Americas, leading to millions of Native American deaths.

Anthropologists

Scientists or scholars who study humans, their origins, physical characteristics, social relations, and cultural development over time.

Agricultural Revolution

When humans learned to plant crops and raise them. ex.) Between 7,500 and 9,500 years ago, early Americans learned to plant and raise crops, like corn and a wild grass called teosinte.

Multiethnic

Consisting of different ethnic or cultural groups.

Obsidian

Glasslike, dark, volcanic rock. Highly prized by early civilizations.

Tribute

payment, tax, goods

Kivas

Multi-story buildings of adobe and cut stone with connecting passageways and circular ceremonial rooms.

Pueblos

Spanish word for “villages.” Spanish explorers called the structures this.

Astrolabe

Device invented by ancient Greeks and refined by Arab navigators. Uses the sun's position to determine direction, latitude, and local time.

Caravel

Portuguese ship, incorporated many of these improvements. (Sails, multiple masts, improved speed)

Circumnavigate

to travel all the way around something, especially the Earth or a large landmass like an island or continent

Conquistadors

“conquerors”: men who led expeditions to conquer the rest of Central America.

Jesuit

A Roman Catholic religious order focused on education and missionary work

Taunt

A sarcastic challenge

Volley

a group of weapons launched at the same time

Cheek by jowl

Side by side

Joint-stock companies

Form of business organization in which many investors pool funds to raise large amounts of money for large projects.

Headrights

system in which settlers were granted land in exchange for settling in Virginia.

Proprietary Colony

a colony owned by an individual

Town meetings

a gathering of free men in a New England town to elect leaders, which developed into the local town government

Pietism

Movement in the 1700s that stressed an individual’s piety and an emotional union with God.

Revivals

Large public meetings for preaching and prayer

Indentured servant

an individual who contracts to work for a colonist for a specified number of years in exchange for transportation to the colonies, food, clothing, and shelter.

Triangular trade

A three-way trade route for exchanging goods and people between the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

Mercantilism

The theory that a state’s power depends on its wealth.

Chattel Slavery

A form of enslavement in which enslaved people are legally treated as the personal property of a slaveholder

Middle Passage

the transatlantic route over which ships carried enslaved Africans to the Americas

Manumission

the act of legally freeing an enslaved person

Paradoxes

an apparent contradiction

Disposition

The transfer of the care or possession of something to another

Conjoin

To join together for a purpose

Requisite

Necessary

Fidelity

being faithful or loyal

Jurisdiction

A government's power or authority over a certain area

Misdemeanor

a lesser criminal offense that is more serious than an infraction but less severe than a felony

Derive

to take or come from another source

Dissolution

the process of dissolving or taking apart

Impartial

treating all equally

Compelled

to force

Yoke

wooden harness

Conventions

Custom or rule, particularly regarding behavior

Magistrates

Official

Apprehensions

fear that something bad may happen

Arbitrary

existing seemingly at random

Calamity

state of distress

Bowers

attractive dwelling

Conscience

one’s sense of right or fair behavior

Prudence

good judgement