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1491-1607, terms to know
Maize
extremely important to the first Native American settlements
allowed NA to settle complex societies due to a substantial food source
used for more than just food
easily stored, long lasting
Tenochitlan
capital of the Aztec empire, reached 5 million people at its peak
advanced city for its time
capital of the Aztec empire from 1325-1521
shows complexity of NA settlements
Aztec empire
1325-1521
wiped out by disease from spanish
conquered by Hernan Cortes
complex settlement
Iroquois
NA tribe that served as a military threat to the European settlers
deeply complex societies
involved in trade (fur)
autonomy remained from french and english
Protestant reformation
1517-1648
broke away from catholic church
idea of religious freedom allowed for creation of new branches of religions
pushed europeans to the new world due to social, religious and political forces
core values of the reformation inspired the founding fathers for the basis of US constitution
created Puritan branch which correlates to settlements such as Massachusetts and Rhode island
put the colonization of the Americas into effect
shaped American culture
Columbian Exchange
1492-1800
transfer of animals, plants disease, resources and slaves between the old and new world
diseases wiped out most NAs, devastates the population
introduced new crops from the Americas
began the trans-atlantic slave trade
involves Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Africa
IDEAS
causes wealth in europe, population is increased due to more diverse diets and healthier options, europe is recovered from plague
Christopher Columbus
sails to the new world in 1492
funded by isabella and ferdinand, catholic monarchs
trying to find an alternate trade route to Asias
many people follow him after he lands in the americas
lands in Caribbean
begins the columbian exchange
Bartolome de las Casas
writes “ A Brief account of the devastation of the Indies”
says spanish are barbarians for their treatment of the NAs
sparks debate about Encomienda system and results in the “New Laws” which just force spaniards to pay the NAs (not sufficient change)
Encomienda system
system of labor that uses NAs for cheap labor (enslave them)
increases risk of disease and death
cannot maintain system long term due to the increasing death rates and the decreasing birth rates
unique to the Spanish empire
connects back to the Spanish Reconquista when Spanish would enslave conquered muslim populations
how it worked was there were indigenous people who were made to provide labor and tribute (paid them in food or clothing or useful resources) in exchange for protection from other tribes and religious guidance (catholicism)
lasted from 15th to 18th century (peaked in 16th century)
Repartimiendo System
replaced the encomienda system
shorter periods of work
groups were directly assigned from the crown
supposed to reduce the maltreatment of NAs
Black legend
propaganda spread about how the spanish were evil
anti-catholic
created from the cruelty and intolerance that the spanish displayed in regards to the NAs
popular in England
New France
less dense than New Spain
focused on money not religion
fur trade
goal is to increase business and commerce
allies w NAs for trade
best relationship with NAs
Pueblo Revolt of 1680
most successful indian revolt against the Europeans
Constantinople
common area for Europeans to trade through/travel through
conquered by the Ottoman’s in 1453, islamic people who did not let them trade or pass through without taxation
dangerous
byzantines had ruled for 1100 years (since 350 to 1453)
used to be friendly and christian
made trade more difficult for europeans
part of the motivation to go to the new world
social and political crisis
bubonic plague wipes out 35-50% of European population in the 1300’s
economic system fails due to lack of people to support feudalism
turn to mercantilism that calls for more trade markets which means expansion
colonies were established to export raw materials and goods to mother country to facilitate income
Note 
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