Unit 1: 1491-1607

Aztecs

An ancient civilization known for written language, complex irrigation, and human sacrifice.

Maya

Civilization recognized for complex irrigation, development of large cities, and advanced water storage.

Inca

An empire that cultivated crops like potatoes and maize, known for its complex irrigation systems.

Pueblo

Settled community that farmed maize and had organized religious and administrative centers.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of food, animals, minerals, people, and diseases between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

Encomienda System

A labor system in Spanish America where landowners were granted the labor of indigenous people.

Caste System

A hierarchical social structure in Spanish America based on ethnicity and descent.

Mission System

A method of colonization involving missionaries to convert natives instead of using military force.

Maritime Technology

Advancements such as caravels and navigation tools that facilitated exploration.

Reasons for Exploration

Factors leading to European exploration including population growth, political unification, and competition for luxury goods.

Iroquois

Native American group known for their agriculture and longhouses.

Smallpox

A disease that had devastating effects on Native populations after contact with Europeans.

Animism

The belief system among many Native Americans that the land is not a commodity but sacred.

Mercantilism

An economic policy that emphasizes the role of the state in managing international trade to maximize wealth.

Peninsulares

Spanish-born individuals who were at the top of the social caste system in colonial America.

Criollos

Spanish individuals born in the Americas, below Peninsulares in the caste system.

Mestizos

People of mixed European and Native American heritage, occupying a distinct social status.

Mulattoes

Persons of mixed European and African ancestry, part of the colonial social hierarchy.

African Slaves

People brought from Africa to the Americas, primarily for labor in agriculture and mining.

Political Unification

The process that contributed to centralized governments in Europe, facilitating exploration.

Caravels

Small, highly maneuverable sailing ships used by Portugal for exploration.

Fertile Soil

Soil that is rich in nutrients, critical for farming, particularly in settlement areas like the Mississippi River Valley.

Population Increase after Black Plague

A demographic change that spurred European exploration due to recovery and surplus labor.