Heimler Review Guide Unit 1: 1491-1607

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from the Heimler Review Guide for Unit 1: 1491-1607, focusing on the early Native American societies, European exploration, and the establishment of Spanish colonies.

Encomienda system

A labor system that rewarded Spanish colonists with the labor of indigenous people; it often used forced native labor.

Mestizos

People of mixed European and Native American ancestry.

Casta system

A hierarchical system of racial classification in Spanish America that determined social status and privileges.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of people, animals, plants, and diseases between the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia) and the New World (Americas).

Reconquista

The period in Spanish history when Christian kingdoms sought to recapture territory from Muslim rule.

Nomadic hunter/gatherers

Groups of people who move frequently in search of food, rather than settling in one location.

Pueblo

A term for the Native American communities in the Southwestern United States, particularly known for their adobe dwellings, irrigation systems, and agricultural practices.

Native Americans from the Great Basin and Great Plains regions (Canada to Colorado)

Nomadic hunter-gatherers who often followed buffalo. Took part in egalitarian kinship bands.

Natives from the Pacific Northwest

Permanant settlers with coastal trade networks. Abundant fish, small game, and plant life.

Iroquois

Northeast Native Americans, farmers who often lived in communal longhouses. Abundant resources like timber, fish, and fur.

Mississippi River Natives

Farmers because of rich soil. River-based trade.

What aspects of the Old World fed European exploration?

Rising populations post-Bubonic Plague, development of strong centralized monarchies, desire for luxury goods from China and India

How did technology effect travel?

Technological advancements such as the compass, astrolabe, and improved ship designs made exploration more efficient and safer, enabling longer voyages across the oceans.

What did Portugal do which prompted European Exploration in the late 15th century?

The Portuguese established a trading post empire in Africa and Asia.

What were the three primary objectives of Spanish exploration and colonization?

Spread Catholic Christianity, trade and gaing wealth in foreign markets, and extract resources from land

Define the Columbian Exchange

The transfer of people, animals, and diseases between the Old World and the New World

How were Native populations impacted by the Columbian Exchange?

Native populations experienced significant declines due to diseases introduced by Europeans, loss of land, and cultural disruption, while also encountering new crops and livestock.

How were European populations impacted by the Columbian Exchange?

European populations benefited from the introduction of new crops and resources, leading to population growth and economic expansion, but also faced exposure to syphillis.

What systems did the Spanish use to establish and maintain their new colonies?

Encomienda systems enslaving Natives, the Casta System, and installation of royally appointed governors.

How was religion used in Spanish colonial society (hint: think enconmienda system).

Religion was used to justify the encomienda system, alongside Social Darwinism. This enabled the abuse and enslavement of both Natives and imported Africans.

Explain the development of African-based chattel slavery in the New World.

Natives were often defiant and familiar with lands, whereas Africans were unfamiliar, making it harder for them to resist. African slave trade was also pre-established as many Natives died from disease.

What is chattel slavery?

A system where individuals are treated as personal property to be bought and sold. It involves the complete ownership of a person.