Indigenous Peoples and Early American Settlements

These flashcards cover key concepts and terms related to the Indigenous Peoples and early American settlements as discussed in the lecture notes.

Cahokia

The largest city before the American Revolution, home to 20,000 Native Americans.

Beringia

The land bridge that connected Asia and North America, now submerged beneath the Bering Sea.

Paleo-Native Americans

Early Native Americans known for their hunting tools and weapons which were similar to those found in Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Agricultural Revolution

The gradual shift from hunting and gathering to cultivating basic food crops that occurred worldwide about 1000 years ago.

Mesoamerican crops

Maize, squash, and beans which spread north from central Mexico as knowledge of agriculture advanced.

Aztec civilization

A complex society in central Mexico, known for its capital Tenochtitlan, that contained as many as 250,000 people.

Eastern Woodland Culture

Term given to Native groups from the Northeast region who supplemented farming with seasonal hunting and gatherings.

Iroquoian language group

A language group including the Mohawk, Cherokee, and Seneca tribes.

Colombian Exchange

The exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas from the first contact.

Kinship and culture

Central organizing principles for Eastern Woodland Native Americans, shaping their alliances and societal structures.

European Colonists' view on property

Disputes often arose between Europeans and Native Americans over differing perceptions of property and ownership.

Smallpox and measles

Diseases brought by Europeans, which significantly impacted Native American populations who had no immunity.

Islam

A religion founded by the Prophet Muhammad, which spread slowly from Arabia to West Africa, impacting cultural interactions.

Mali and Kongo

Established kingdoms in West Africa when Europeans first arrived, noted for their political and economic systems.

Negative impacts of slavery

Enslaved individuals often became victims of war or judicial practices, causing significant traditional life strain.

Elaborate human sacrifice

Associated with Aztec sun god Huitzilopochili, reflecting the religious practices of the Aztec civilization.