Period 1 Reading Guide - Key Concepts and Historical Evidence

Flashcards addressing key concepts and historical evidence from the Period 1 Reading Guide.

Key Concept 1.1

As native populations migrated and settled across North America, they developed distinct complex societies by adapting to their environments.

Mayan Empire

A civilization known for its organized society, extensive trade, and calendar based on scientific observations.

Incan Empire

A highly organized society that provided stable food supplies, notably through the cultivation of potatoes.

Aztec Empire

Known for its complex society and the cultivation of corn, it was one of the three major civilizations in pre-Columbian America.

Iroquois Confederation

A political union of five independent tribes in New York that was a powerful force from the 16th century through the American Revolution.

Columbian Exchange

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

Encomienda System

A labor system where Spanish landowners were granted the right to the labor of indigenous people.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement between Spain and Portugal, established by the pope, that divided the New World between the two empires.

Bartolomé de Las Casas

A Spanish priest who advocated for better treatment of Native Americans, influencing the New Laws of 1542.

Spanish Exploration

Led to the conquest of the Aztecs and Incas, securing Spain's supremacy and wealth in the Americas.