Pre-Columbian to Early Colonial History of the Area That Would Become the United States

Flashcards covering pre-Columbian history, Mississippian culture, population estimates at contact, motives and economics of colonization, and booster narratives.

Approximately how long did people occupy the New World before Columbus, according to current estimates?

At least 12,000 years, with some archaeologists suggesting up to 35,000 years due to possible early migration across the Bering Land Bridge.

Why do many courses begin history at 1492 despite long pre-Columbian histories?

For practicality and ease within a finite course length, to cover contact to the present and tell the colonization story in a manageable timespan.

What sources do historians rely on, and when do print sources begin for the New World?

Historians rely on artifacts and especially print/written sources; print sources and written records begin to appear around 1492 in the New World.

What is Cahokia and why is it significant in Mississippian culture?

A major Mississippian mound-building center near modern-day St. Louis, notable for its large earthwork and social complexity.

What does the term 'Mississippian' refer to in this context?

A group of southeastern North American cultures known for mound-building, complex societies, and sites like Cahokia and Ocmulgee.

Why does mound-building indicate social complexity in Mississippian societies?

Building large mounds required organized labor, political structure, religious or burial functions, and coordinated collective effort.

Where is Cahokia located?

Across the Mississippi River from modern-day St. Louis, Illinois.

Which major empires outside what would become the United States were dominant in the Americas at the time of contact?

The Aztec Empire in central Mexico and the Inca Empire in western South America.

What roles did labor, force, and religion play in Mississippian mound-building?

Labor had to be mobilized over long periods; leaders could use force, loyalty, religion, or taxes to organize people.

What are the three classic motives for early colonization discussed in the lecture?

Gold, God, and Glory (within a mercantilist framework of fixed resources).

What is mercantilism as described in this lecture?

The idea that resources are fixed and nations scramble to control them for power, rather than pursuing endless growth and open trade.

How did religious reform influence colonization strategies?

Denominations spread via colonies; colonies served as outlets for religious dissenters and as opportunities to convert others—the 'reformation of souls'.

What is enclosure in 15th–16th century England, and why did it matter for colonization?

The conversion of common lands into privately owned sheep pastures, displacing peasants and pushing them to seek opportunities in the colonies.

What is the origin of the word 'kidnapped' in this historical context?

Debtors and impoverished individuals were imprisoned in Europe and often sent/forced to the colonies to work off debts.

Who was Richard Hakluyt and what did he do for English colonization?

An English promoter who translated and popularized exploration accounts, writing booster texts about the New World—often without having visited it.

What does the term 'settler' imply about European contact with the New World?

It implies moving into a land that was already developed or discovered by others, not discovering an empty wilderness.

Where were the greatest centers of New World culture located in the Americas, and why are they mentioned?

The Aztec and Inca Empires were the epicenters in Central and Western South America; they are noted as powerful centers not located in the future United States.