APUSH Time Period One

These flashcards focus on key concepts related to Native American societies before 1492 and the motivations and consequences of European exploration and colonization.

Diverse Cultures

Numerous distinct cultures among Native American societies, each adapted to their specific environments.

Cahokia

The largest permanent settlement of the Midwest, home to around 30,000 inhabitants and known for its public architecture.

Mound Builders

Ancient Native American societies known for building ceremonial mounds in the Midwest.

Great Basin

A region between the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevada characterized by a lack of resources and seasonal mobility of its hunter-gatherer inhabitants.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the New World and Europe following Columbus's voyages.

Encomienda System

A system where Spanish colonizers were granted control over native lands and labor, resulting in the exploitation of indigenous peoples.

Matrilineal Society

A society where lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother, common among many indigenous cultures.

Animism

The belief in sacred spirits residing in all living and nonliving things, prevalent among Native American spiritual practices.

Amerigo Vespucci

An Italian explorer whose namesake, America, was derived from his expedition writings in the New World.

Spanish Casta System

A hierarchical system that categorized individuals in Spanish colonies based on their racial backgrounds, particularly emphasizing 'whiteness' as the social ideal.