Period 1 (1491-1607) Apush Key Terms

Encomienda System

Spanish colonial system granting settlers the right to extract labor and tribute from Indigenous peoples in exchange for protection and Christianization.

Caste System

Social hierarchy established in Spanish colonies based on race and birthplace, with Europeans at the top and Indigenous and African peoples at the bottom.

European Colonization

Expansion of European powers into the Americas to acquire land, wealth, and spread Christianity.

Maize

Corn cultivated by Native Americans, forming the staple crop that supported large pre-Columbian societies.

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of plants, animals, people, diseases, and technology between the Americas, Europe, and Africa after 1492.