Overview of Native American Cultures and European Exploration

These flashcards encompass key concepts from Native American cultures prior to European exploration, the motivations for European exploration, the Columbian Exchange, and changes in economic and social structures.

What were the three major civilizations in Central/South America before European arrival?

Aztecs, Mayas, and Inca.

Where was the capital city of the Aztecs located?

Tenochtitlán in Central America.

What significant agricultural crop was widely grown by major civilizations in Central America?

Maize.

What were the major characteristics of the Maya civilization?

Large cities, complex water storage, irrigation, and stone palaces.

What type of homes did Pueblo people live in?

Adobe and masonry homes.

How did the Great Plains tribes adapt to their environment?

They were nomadic hunter-gatherers.

Which tribes lived in the Pacific Northwest and what was one of their resources?

Chinook and Chumash; relied on fishing and elk hunting.

What was the population range of Cahokia, the largest regional settlement in Mississippi River Valley?

10,000 to 30,000 people.

What crop was primarily grown by the Iroquois in the Northeast?

Maize, squash, and beans.

What motivated Europeans to explore the Americas in the 15th century?

Population rebound, political unification under monarchs, and demands for luxury goods.

Who was Prince Henry the Navigator and what did he contribute to exploration?

He established a trading post empire and sought routes to Asia.

What technology did explorers use to improve navigation?

Caravels, updated charts, astrolabe, and stern-post rudder.

What year did Columbus sail across the Atlantic and what did he seek?

In 1492, he sought sponsorship to find Asia by sailing west.

What was the Columbian Exchange?

Transfer of food, animals, people, and diseases between Africa, Europe, and the Americas.

What disease significantly weakened the Native American population, aiding Spanish conquests?

Smallpox.

What were the key crops brought from the Americas to Europe?

Maize, tomatoes, potatoes, cacao, and tobacco.

Which livestock were introduced to the Americas by Europeans?

Horses, pigs, cattle, and chickens.

What was the role of slavery in the context of the Columbian Exchange?

Native slaves were initially sent to Spain, later replaced by enslaved Africans.

What economic system replaced feudalism in Western Europe?

Capitalism.

What was the Encomienda System?

A system where Spanish colonizers were granted land and the native people on it for coerced labor.

What social hierarchy was established under the Casta System?

Peninsulares → Creoles → Mestizos → Mulattos → Africans → Natives.

What was the Pueblo Revolt of 1610?

A rebellion against Spanish rule due to the suppression of Native religious practices.

Who was Bartolomé de las Casas and what was his stance on Native treatment?

A priest who argued against mistreating Natives and opposed the encomienda system but supported African slavery.

What effect did Spanish colonization have on Native American views of land ownership?

Natives viewed land as spiritual, conflicting with Spanish notions of private ownership.

What motivated Pueblos to combine their religious practices with Christianity?

To preserve their culture while adapting to Spanish influence.

What did the Iroquois use their longhouses for?

To house extended families of 30-50 people.

What significant geographical feature did the Inca civilization thrive in?

The Andes Mountains.

What did Europeans use to justify the enslavement of Africans?

Biblical claims that Africans descended from Noah's grandson Canaan.

How did wealth from the Columbian Exchange affect European society?

Nobles grew richer while peasants became poorer due to rising prices.

What was the impact of horses on Native American culture?

They transformed hunting and warfare.