APUSH Chapter 1 Key Words

Columbian Exchange

the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, ideas between the Old World and New World.

Mestizos

a person of mixed race including European and Indian ancestry.

Encomienda

a Spanish labor system that granted colonists the right to demand tribute and forced labor from Indigenous peoples in the Americas.

Treaty of Tordesillas

an agreement made in 1494 between Spain and Portugal, which divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two nations along a meridian.

Pope’s Rebellion

a significant uprising in 1680 led by Popé, a Pueblo leader, against Spanish colonial rule the rebellion was a response to the oppressive policies of the Spanish.

Conquistadors

explorers and soldiers who led military expeditions in the Americas during the 16th century, primarily to conquer indigenous populations and claim territories for Spain.

Caravel

a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century, primarily by the Portuguese, that was crucial for exploration during the Age of Discovery.

Maize

corn