Pre-Colonial and Spanish Colonial Philippines Review

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the Pre-Colonial era through the end of Spanish rule in the Philippines, including social structures, economic policies, and key historical figures.

Pre-Colonial Philippines

The era before Spanish colonization in the 16th century, characterized by complex indigenous social structures, economic activities, and governance models.

Wave Migration Theory

A theory suggesting that the Filipino people are the result of several waves of migration from neighboring regions.

Negritos

Believed to be the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines who arrived around $30,000$ years ago, characterized by small stature and dark skin.

Austronesians

A linguistic group that migrated to the Philippines around $4,000$ years ago, introducing advancements in agriculture, pottery, and navigation.

Malays

The final wave of migrants arriving around $2,000$ years ago, who introduced more advanced technologies and social structures.

Core Population Theory

A theory proposed by anthropologist Felipe Landa Jocano arguing that Filipino culture developed from a core population that evolved gradually within the islands.

Balangay

Ancient Austronesian boats or large wooden boats used for trade, migration, and facilitating early economic exchanges with neighboring regions.

Tabon Man

Prehistoric human remains found in the Tabon Caves of Palawan, dating back to approximately $16,500$ years ago.

Laguna Copperplate Inscription

The earliest known written document found in the Philippines, dated to $900 \text{ AD}$, providing evidence of early writing systems and trade relations.

Beyer's Migration Theory

One of the oldest and most widely known theories on Filipino origins proposed by H. Otley Beyer, though criticized for being oversimplified.

Out of Taiwan Hypothesis

A theory suggesting that Austronesian-speaking peoples originated from Taiwan and spread southward into the Philippines.

Barter Trade

The primary method of trade where goods like pearls, gold, and beeswax were exchanged for silk, porcelain, and spices without the use of money.

Barangay

The basic socio-political unit in pre-colonial Philippines, typically consisting of $30$ to $100$ families.

Sangley

A term used to refer to Chinese merchants who settled in the Philippines.

Sanskrit Terms

Words derived from an ancient Indian language found in Tagalog and Visayan, indicating deep Indian influence in the region.

Maharlika

The warrior class or nobles in pre-colonial Philippine society, likely influenced by Indian and Malay concepts.

Srivijaya Empire

An influential maritime empire based in Sumatra that influenced the Visayan region and the early spread of Islam.

Sultanate of Sulu

A powerful political entity established in the 15th century that was heavily influenced by Islamic and Malay culture.

Bornean Datus

Legendary rulers from Borneo believed to have settled in the Visayas, bringing Malay culture and governance.

Nihonjin

Japanese traders and settlers known for trading pottery and swords during the pre-colonial period.

Syncretism

The blending of different cultural and religious influences, such as combining animist beliefs with Hindu, Buddhist, and Islamic practices.

Datu

A chieftain who led a barangay and held both political and judicial authority; the position was often hereditary.

Timawa

The class of freemen in pre-colonial society who served the Datu in exchange for protection and land.

Aliping Namamahay

A type of servant or slave who lived as a household servant and possessed certain rights.

Aliping Saguiguilid

A type of slave with fewer rights who often worked in the fields.

Animism

The belief that spiritual beings or anito inhabit natural objects like trees, rocks, and rivers.

Babaylan

A priestess or shaman who acted as an intermediary between the physical and spiritual realms to conduct rituals and heal the sick.

Anito

Spirits representing ancestors or nature deities worshipped by pre-colonial Filipinos through rituals and offerings.

Bathala

The supreme deity in Tagalog mythology, regarded as the creator of the universe.

Paninilbihan

A traditional courtship practice where a man performs tasks like fetching water or chopping wood for the bride-to-be's family.

Bigay-Kaya

The custom of providing a dowry (gold, land, or valuable items) from the groom's family to the bride's family.

Pamanhikan

The formal act of the groom and his parents visiting the bride's family to seek approval for marriage.

Kaingin system

A slash-and-burn agricultural method used for primary livelihood.

Tiyangge

Local markets where people from different barangays gathered to trade goods and socialize.

Epiko

Long narrative oral poems telling stories of legendary heroes and gods performed during community events.

Baybayin

A syllabic pre-colonial script used by Tagalog-speaking people where characters represented syllables.

Batasan

Unwritten customary laws based on traditions and norms passed down through generations.

Trial by Ordeal

A method of determining guilt via tests of endurance, such as paluasan (water ordeal) or sipok (hot iron ordeal).

Ferdinand Magellan

A Portuguese explorer leading a Spanish expedition who arrived in the Philippines on March 16, 1521.

Battle of Mactan

A conflict on April 27, 1521, where the forces of Lapu-Lapu killed Ferdinand Magellan.

Ruy López de Villalobos

A Spanish explorer who named the islands 'Las Islas Filipinas' in honor of Prince Philip in 1543.

Miguel López de Legazpi

The Spanish conquistador who established the first permanent settlement in Cebu in 1565 and moved the capital to Manila in 1571.

Governor-General

The highest-ranking official in the Philippines during the Spanish period, representing the Spanish Crown with executive, legislative, and judicial powers.

Encomienda System

A labor system where Spanish settlers were granted the right to extract tribute and labor from indigenous people in exchange for protection and Christianization.

Galleon Trade

The trade route (1565-1815) linking Manila and Acapulco, exchanging Mexican silver for Asian spices, silk, and porcelain.

Doctrina Christiana

The first book printed in the Philippines (1593), a catechism written in Spanish and Tagalog using the Baybayin script.

Reducción

The policy of consolidating scattered settlements into centralized towns or pueblos to facilitate evangelization and colonial administration.

Dagohoy Revolt

The longest-running revolt in Philippine history (1744–1829), led by Francisco Dagohoy in Bohol.

Polo y Servicio

A system of forced labor requiring Filipino males aged $16$ to $60$ to work $40$ days annually on public infrastructure projects.

Tributo

A system of taxation where Filipino families paid a fixed annual amount in cash or agricultural products to Spanish authorities.

Bandala

An economic policy requiring provinces to sell agricultural produce to the colonial government at fixed, often unfair, prices.

Real Audiencia

The supreme court established in 1583 that also served administrative functions and acted as a check on the Governor-General.

Gobernadorcillo

A local official or 'little governor' from the principalia class who managed a pueblo or town.

Cabeza de Barangay

The leader of a barangay responsible for collecting tribute and maintaining peace under the colonial administration.

Obras Pías

Charitable foundations established by wealthy Spaniards and religious orders to fund public works like hospitals and schools.

Friarocracy

The dominance of Catholic religious orders in both the religious and political life of the colony.

Tobacco Monopoly

An economic control established in 1782 requiring farmers to sell tobacco to the government at fixed prices.

Treaty of Paris (1898)

The treaty ending the Spanish-American War in which Spain ceded the Philippines to the United States for $20 \text{ million}$ dollars.

Indio

A pejorative term used by Spanish colonizers to refer to the native inhabitants of the Philippines.

Filipino (Original usage)

Originally used to refer only to Spaniards born in the Philippines (Insulares) before evolving into a national identity in the 19th century.

Illustrados

A class of educated Filipinos, such as José Rizal, who advocated for reforms and equality in the late 19th century.

Propaganda Movement

A campaign for reforms led by Illustrados through publications like La Solidaridad.

Principalia

The local elite class made of former datus and wealthy landowners who served as intermediaries in the Spanish administration.

Hacienda System

A land system of large estates worked by tenant farmers (kasama), which replaced the encomienda system by the 18th century.

Gomburza

The collective name for priests Mariano Gómez, José Burgos, and Jacinto Zamora, whose 1872 execution inspired Filipino nationalists.