8/7 to 8/22

Vocab quiz 1 (8/23)

hierarchy (n.)

hierarchy (n.)

any system of placing persons or things in a graded order, from lower to higher, in terms of wealth, power, status, and so on

indigenous (adj.)

native to a particular region or country

historiography

the proper methodology (principles/theories) of history as an academic discipline; the study of how professional historians critically examine sources, inc: their reliability/credibility, authenticity; how interpretations may change over time; how to separate “myth” from reality; and moral issues such as assigning guilt for past wrongs (which can lead to the creation of simplistic “heroes” and/or “villains”); any body of historical work on a specific subject or topic

plantation (n.)

large agricultural estate or farm on which cash-crops (such as sugar, tobacco, coffee, etc.) are raised/cultivated, usually by a resident laborers/workers

consensus (n.)

agreement in opinion; collective opinion

encomienda (n.)

system in colonial Spanish America under which European soldiers or settlers were granted tracts of land, or a village together with its Native American inhabitants, who were required to farm/ranch/mine or pay tribute in exchange for protection; the right to demand labor or tribute from Native Americans

privateer (n.)

privately owned/crewed ship that is authorized by a government during wartime to attack and capture enemy vessels and property; licensed pirate

presidio (n.)

fortified military base and garrison established in colonial Spanish America to protect their religious missions and land holdings

“Las Castas” (n.)

Spanish classifications in the New World, designed to function as a socioeconomic hierarchy/system based on race and mixed racial categories; not totally fixed or rigid, but often fluid.

mestizo (n.)

term used in the Spanish empire in Latin America to refer to a person of mixed racial or ethnic ancestry, esp. mixed Native American and European descent

gentry (n.)

people of gentle birth, good breeding, or high social position; upper or ruling class of English landowners ranking just below the nobility and above the yeomanry (note: this is the root of the word “gentleman”)

dissent (v./n.)

to object or disagree with the goals, methods, etc, of a political party or govt; to take an opposing view, or the act of doing so

piedmont (n.)

area of land formed or lying at the foot of a mountain or range; plateau region of the eastern US, extending from New York to Alabama, between the Appalachian Mountains, and the Atlantic coastal plain.

yeoman (n.)

member of a class of free, landowning small farmers in England

indenture (n.)

any written contract, dead, or sealed agreement

propriety colony (n.)

settlement organized in a territory granted by the crown to a proprietor or proprietors (i.e. owner of a business or holder of property); examples include Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, or the Carolinas

subversive (adj.)

tending to undermine existing or established invitations of doctrines, which may lead to the overthrow of existing govts. or religious authorities

blasphemy (n.)

any contemptuous or profane utterance, writing, or act concerning God or anything held sacred; deeds meant to dishonor God or the religious authorities

heresy (n.)

any belief or opinion that is contrary to the “orthodox” (ie, “correct”) religious doctrine

autonomous (adj.)

self-governing; independent

urbanization (n.)

the growth of cities