Pre-Columbian Native American Societies and European Exploration

Flashcards created to assist in reviewing key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on Native American societies and European exploration.

Three Sisters

A farming technique involving the planting of corn, beans, and squash together to maximize crop yields.

Cahokia

An urban and trading center of the Mississippian culture, known for its large earthen mounds.

Iroquois Confederacy

A political alliance of five (later six) Native American nations formed to promote cooperation and prevent conflict.

Matrilineal

A societal structure where lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother.

Encomienda

A labor system in Spanish America that granted colonists the right to demand tribute and labor from Native Americans.

Columbian Exchange

The transatlantic exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers and soldiers who conquered Native American civilizations in the Americas.

Tenochtitlán

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, located on an island in Lake Texcoco.

Joint-stock companies

Business entities where investors share risks and profits, facilitating funding for exploration and colonization.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe.

Caste System

A social hierarchy in Spanish America based on race, including categories such as 'mestizos' (mixed Spanish and Native American) and 'mulattos' (mixed Spanish and African).

Spanish Empire

A vast empire established by Spain in the Americas, characterized by the establishment of colonies and conversion of Native Americans to Christianity.

Popé's Rebellion (Pueblo Revolt)

A revolt organized by Popé in 1680 that resulted in the expulsion of Spanish settlers from New Mexico.

Pueblo

Native American peoples living in the Southwestern United States known for their adobe dwellings and agriculture.

Chinampas

Floating gardens used by the Aztecs to increase agricultural productivity in lake areas.

Mound Builders

Ancient Native American cultures, including the Mississippians, known for constructing large earthen mounds for ceremonial and burial purposes.

Social stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals into divisions of power and wealth within a society.

Urban centers

Significant towns or cities that serve as economic, political, and cultural hubs.

Gift giving

An important practice among Native American tribes, utilized in trade relations.

Norse Exploration

The early exploration of North America by Norse sailors, including settlements in Newfoundland.

Spanish Missions

Religious communities established by Spanish colonists to convert Native Americans to Christianity.

Plains Indians

Native American tribes such as the Lakota and Sioux, primarily nomadic and known for buffalo hunting.

Astrolabe

An ancient instrument used for solving problems related to time and the position of the stars.

Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century by the Portuguese.

Cortez

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

Pizarro

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire in the 16th century.

Racial stratification

The categorization of individuals based on race, often leading to social inequality.

Syncretism

The blending of different religious beliefs and practices, particularly between Native American traditions and Christianity.

Great Law of Peace

The constitution created by the Iroquois Confederacy to establish principles of governance and cooperation.

Cattle ranching

The practice of raising cattle for meat and milk, which became prominent in the Spanish colonies.

Gold, God, Glory

The three motivations traditionally cited for Spanish exploration and conquest in the Americas.

Cascadia

A geographic region located in the Pacific Northwest, inhabited by Native American tribes like the Chinook.

Nomadic

Describing societies that move frequently in search of food, often associated with hunting and gathering.

Great Plains

A major agricultural region in North America characterized by grasslands, fertile soil, and Native American tribes.

Alonso de Ojeda

Spanish explorer known for his expeditions along the northern coasts of South America.

Spanish colonization

The establishment of Spanish settlements and control over regions in the Americas after conquest.

Plantation system

An economic system in the Americas relying on slave labor to produce cash crops.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the role of the state in managing international trade and accumulating wealth.

Spanish slave laws

Legislation governing enslaved populations in Spanish colonies, reflecting the values and norms of the period.

Cultural Exchange

The sharing of cultural practices and beliefs between Native Americans and Europeans post-contact.

Reconquista

The centuries-long campaign to reclaim Iberian territory from Muslim rule, influencing Spanish explorers' motivations.

Pueblo Revolt

The successful uprising of Pueblo Indians against Spanish rule in 1680, leading to temporary Spanish withdrawal.

Valladolid Debate

A 1550 discussion on the treatment of Native Americans and the justification for their subjugation.

Syncretic practices

The blending of different cultural or religious practices, particularly among Native Americans after European contact.

Cultural misinterpretation

The misunderstanding of customs or traditions between two different cultures, often leading to conflict.

Fort St. Augustine

The first permanent European settlement in the present-day United States, established by the Spanish.