Early American History and Colonization

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on early American history and the process of colonization.

What year did Columbus first land in the New World?

1492

What is the significance of the year 1517 in European history?

Martin Luther launched the Protestant Reformation.

What did the term 'encomienda system' refer to?

A labor system where Spanish settlers were granted the right to extract forced labor from native inhabitants.

What disaster is referred to as the 'Demographic Disaster'?

The drastic decline of the Native American population due to diseases introduced by Europeans.

Which civilization was centered in the area of modern-day Mexico City?

The Aztec civilization, specifically Tenochtitlán.

What event is the 'Pueblo Revolt'?

A rebellion by Pueblo Indians against Spanish colonizers in 1680.

Who was Bartolomé de Las Casas?

A Dominican priest who criticized the treatment of Native Americans by Spanish colonizers.

What was the 'Black Legend'?

The negative image of Spain as a uniquely brutal colonizer of the Americas.

What was a key exploration achievement of Zheng He?

Led naval expeditions in the Indian Ocean during the early 1400s.

What did the Columbian Exchange encompass?

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, and germs between the Old World and the New World.

What was the primary motivation behind Spanish exploration?

The pursuit of wealth, national glory, and spreading Catholicism.

Which indigenous group formed a confederation in present-day New York?

The Iroquois Confederacy.

What was one result of the Viking exploration of America in the year 1000?

The establishment of a settlement called Vinland.

How did European views on land ownership differ from Native Americans?

Europeans viewed land as private property, while Native Americans saw it as a shared resource.

What characterized the French approach to Native American relations?

The French generally maintained a more cooperative and respectful relationship compared to other European settlers.

Who was Hernán Cortés and what did he achieve?

A Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.

What was the primary crop that was a staple of Native American agriculture?

Maize (corn).

What was the outcome of the first encounter between the Aztecs and Hernán Cortés?

Cortés and his men conquered Tenochtitlán, leading to the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Which year marks the establishment of Quebec by Samuel de Champlain?

1608

What was the role of the Council of the Indies in Spanish America?

It was the main body in Spain for colonial administration in the Americas.

What significant technology did Johannes Gutenberg invent in the 1430s?

The printing press.

Which country first colonized the area that is now Florida?

Spain.

What did the term 'mestizos' refer to in colonial Latin America?

Persons of mixed European and Native American descent.

Which explorer is credited with being the first to circumnavigate the globe?

Ferdinand Magellan.

What did Hernando de Soto's expedition contribute to the Native American population?

The introduction of disease and further violence, leading to population decline.