Unit 1 Key Terms, People, and Events

Canadian shield

A large rocky area of Canada with thin soil, many lakes and rich mineral deposits

incas

A powerful native American civilization in Peru that built a large empire before being conquered by Spanish

aztecs

A powerful Native American Society in Mexico, that built a large empire before being conquered by Spanish

nation- states

countries with a central government and people united under one nation

Cahokia

A large Native American city near present Day, St. Louis, built by the Mississippian people and known for its large mounds

3-sister farming

growing corn beans, and squash together to help each crop grow better

middlemen

People who buy sell goods between producers and customers, often making a profit

caravel

A small fast sailing ship used by European explorers for long ocean voyages

plantation

Large farm that grows crops like tobacco, rice, or sugar for profit, often using enslaved labor

Colombian exchange

Exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and goods between Europe and the America’s after Columbuses voyages

treaty of tordesillas

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

encomienda

A Spanish system that gave settlers control over Native American labor in exchange for supposedly protecting them and converting them to Christianity

noche triste

The sad night when Aztecs forced Cortes and the Spanish to flee Tenochtitlan in 1520

capitalism

an economic system where people own businesses and property and try to make a profit

mestizos

people of mixed European and Native American ancestry

conquistadors

Spanish explorers and soldiers who conquered Native American lands in the Americas

battle of acoma

A 1599 battle where the Spanish defeated and punished the Acoma Pueblo people in Mexico

pope’s rebellion

A 1680 Native American uprising that drove the Spanish out of New Mexico for about 12 years

Black legend

The idea that the Spanish were especially cruel to Native Americans during their conquest of the Americas

Moctezuma

The Aztec emperor when Hernan Cortes arrived in Mexico

Ferdinand of Aragon

King of Spain, who with Queen Isabella supported Columbus voyage to the Americas

Isabella of Castile

Queen of Spain, who with King Ferdinand supported Columbus’s voyage to the Americas

Christopher Columbus

An Italian explorer who sailed for Spain and reached the Americas in 1492

Francisco Coronado

Spanish Explorer, who searched the American Southwest for the legendary seven cities of gold

Francisco Pizarro

A Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca empire in South America

Bartolome de la Casas

A Spanish priest who spoke out against the mistreatment of Native Americans

Hernan Cortes

A Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec empire in Mexico

Malinche (Doña Marina)

A Native American woman who served as Cortes’s translator and helped the Spanish conquer Aztec

Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot)

An Italian Explorer, who Sailed for England and explored the coast of North America

Robert de LaSalle

A French explorer, who explored the Mississippi river and claimed the Louisiana territory for France

father Junipero Serra

A Spanish Priest who founded the Catholic missions in California to convert Native Americans to Christianity

what role did corn play in early Americans?

it molded the Pueblo culture and sustained large settlements

what role did beans and squash play in early Americans?

They produced high population densities like the Choctaw, Cherokee, and creek

what were women’s roles in early Americans?

they tended to crops

what were men’s roles in early Americans?

Hunting, gathering, and cleaning fields for planting

were cultures matrilineal or patriarchal?

matrilineal

what does matrilineal mean

Power and possessions were passed down on the female side

what did the Christian Crusaders do?

Tried from the 11th to 14th century to wrest the holy land from Muslim control

what did Marco Polo do?

Wrote a book, including descriptions of the rose tinted pearls and golden pagodas and stimulated European desires for treasures of the East

what is a caravel?

A small fast ship that could sell more closely into the wind

What was the modern plantation system?

A system based on large scale, commercial agriculture, and wholesale exploitation of labor

what five things were exchanged in the Colombian exchange

Diseases, food and plants, animals, minerals, and people

Who introduced smallpox and where does it spread?

Smallpox was introduced by the Spanish and it spread through Mexico and Central America

what was the effect of smallpox from the Colombian exchange

It killed half of the indigenous population and led to African slavery replacing encomienda system

what effect did the food and plants from the Colombian exchange have

Nutrient rich food led to healthier Europeans and a population explosion after 1700

what animals were introduced to Americans in the Colombian exchange

Pigs, sheep, cattle, and horses

what people were exchanged in the Colombian exchange

Indigenous Americans were brought back to Europe, and millions of enslaved Africans were transferred to colonial America where they were forced to work in cash crop plantations

what did the Renaissance do?

Sparked cultural and technological innovations

what was the Lateen sail?

Made during the Renaissance, it took wind from both directions

what was the magnetic compass?

made during the renaissance, the magnetic compass gave direction

what was the astrolabe

Made during the renaissance, the Astrolabe gave latitude

what was the caste system?

Re-organization of indigenous societies and social structure

what did conquistadors do?

Subdued population and found wealth

what did capitalism replace?

Feudalism

what is the protestant reformation?

A religious movement that challenged the Catholic Church and created new Protestant churches in Europe

what country sent Catholic missionaries to convert native population to Christianity?

Spain

what is the line of demarcation?

Countries deciding in which New World territories belong to whom

what were two ways indigenous people resisted Europeans?

Diplomatic negotiations and military resistance

Who was Virginia founded by

London Co.

what year was Virginia founded

1607

what year was Virginia made royal?

1624

Who was New Hampshire founded by

John Mason, and others

what year was New Hampshire founded

1623

what year was New Hampshire made royal

1679

Who was Massachusetts founded by

puritans

what year was Massachusetts founded

1628

what year was Massachusetts made royal

1691

Who is Plymouth founded by

Separatist

what year was Plymouth founded

1620

Who was Maine founded by

F. Gorges

what year was Maine founded

1623

Who is Maryland founded by

Lord Baltimore

what year was Maryland founded

1634

Who was Connecticut founded by

Mass. emigrants

what year was Connecticut founded?

1635

Who is New Haven founded by

Mass. emigrants

what year was New Haven founded

1638

Who is Rhode Island founded by

R. Williams

what year was Rhode Island founded

1636

Who is Delaware founded by

Swedes

what year was Delaware founded

1638

Who is North Carolina founded by

Virginians

what year was North Carolina founded

1653

what year was North Carolina made royal

1729

Who founded New York

Dutch

what year was New York founded

1613

what year was New York made royal

1685

Who founded New Jersey

Berkeley & Carteret

what year was New Jersey founded

1664

what year was New Jersey made royal

1702

Who founded Carolina?

Eight Nobles

what year was Carolina founded

1670

what year was Carolina made royal

1729

Who founded Pennsylvania

William Penn

what year was Pennsylvania founded

1681

Who founded Georgia

Oglethorpe and others

what year was Georgia founded

1733

what year was Georgia made royal

1752

what is Roanoke Island?

The site of Englands first attempt to establish a colony in America, which disappeared and became known as the lost colony

what is the Spanish Armada?

A large Spanish naval fleet that tried to invade England in 1588 but was defeated