APUSH - all units (1.2 -

what two factors played a pivotal role in shaping the cultures and lifestyles of Native Americans?

geography and environment

what was a key development in pre-Columbian North America?

the spread of maize cultivation, which had a transformative effect on many communities

where did maize originate?

in present-day Mexico and spread to the American Southwest and beyond

Maize cultivation revolutionized life for many Native American societies, particularly those in the…

Southwest

the Ancestral Puebloans used advanced irrigation techniques to farm maize, which not only sustained large populations but also supported

complex social structures

As we move into more arid regions such as in the Great Basin and western Great Plains, we see a different adaptation strategy which was?

mobility, relying on hunting and gathering

The Shoshone people adapted to the arid conditions of the Great Basin by…

moving seasonally and relying on a diet of plants, small animals, and fish

In contrast to the mobile societies of arid regions, some areas supported more stable, permanent communities through mixed economies such as the Northeast, the Mississippi River Valley, and a long the Atlantic seaboard. These societies developed….

mixed agricultural and hunter-gatherer economies which favored the development of permanent villages

 The Iroquois Confederacy practiced the "Three Sisters" agricultural method (maize, beans, and squash) and established

well organized villages

Further west, the abundance of natural resources, especially along the Pacific Coast, the Northwest, and present day California, allowed for different societal structures that…..

supported by the vast resources of the ocean

The Tlingit people of the Northwest Coast built large, permanent villages and were skilled in….

fishing, particularly salmon

The late 15th and early 16th centuries marked a period of unprecedented __________ by European nations

exploration

One of the most compelling motivations for European exploration was the?

pursuit of wealth (gold, silver, other precious metals)

The Spanish expeditions led by conquistadors like Hernán Cortés resulted in the plundering of vast amounts of gold and silver from the?

Aztec Empire

The discovery of ___________, particularly 

in spices, was a major economic incentive

lucrative trade routes

Exploration led to the establishment of _________ and colonies that generated ________________

new trade networks + immense wealth

Beyond the search for wealth, _____________________ among European powers played a crucial role in the age of exploration

economic and military competition

Colonies served as bases for military operations and?

strategic advantages

The desire to outdo rivals in _____________ was a significant driving force

territorial expansion

define: between Spain and Portugal divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe, demonstrating the intense competition and desire for territorial control

The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)