Key Terms from Colonial and Indigenous Studies

Flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the lecture on Colonial and Indigenous studies.

Staple Crop

A food that is a primary source of nutrition for a people and makes up a large part of their diet.

Inquisition

A religious investigation by the clergy targeting perceived heretics, particularly Jews, aiming to force confessions.

Franciscan

Any member of a Roman Catholic religious order established by St. Francis of Assisi in the early 13th century.

Ferdinand II

King of Aragon and co-ruler of Spain with Queen Isabella from 1479 until his death in 1516.

Inca Empire

A notable empire created by the Indigenous peoples, stretching from modern-day Colombia to Chile.

Puebloans

Native Americans from the Southwestern United States who share common cultural practices.

Queen Isabella

Queen of Castille and Aragon known for unifying Spain through marriage and expelling Jews and Muslims.

Renaissance

A cultural and intellectual expansion from 15th century Italy throughout Europe, focusing on political unification.

Missions

Settlements established by Spanish missionaries who directed new settlements in the Americas.

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of diseases, ideas, food, crops, and populations between the New World and the Old World after Columbus's voyages.

Casta System

A hierarchical system created by Spaniards to classify individuals based on ethnicity.

Caravel

A sailboat used by the Spanish and Portuguese for long journeys, known for its speed and agility.

Atlantic World

The network of social and economic interactions among the Americas, Europe, and West Africa.

Christopher Columbus

Italian navigator who discovered the Americas while seeking a westward route to Asia.

Missionaries

Religious individuals sent to promote Christianity, often holding significant power in the Americas.

Chinampas

Agricultural irrigation systems used by the Aztecs, consisting of artificially built islands.

Astrolabe

A navigational tool used by sailors to calculate latitude in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership and the open exchange of goods.

Feudalism

A social and economic hierarchy where loyalty and protection are exchanged for land and service.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztecs located in present-day Mexico City.

Malintzin (Dona Marina)

A translator for Hernando Cortez who played a crucial role in Spanish conquests.

Maya

A civilization based in the Yucatan Peninsula, known for their achievements in writing, mathematics, and astronomy.

Slavery

The condition in which a person is forced to work for another under threat of violence and without rights.

Encomienda

A Spanish labor system allowing landowners to use Native Americans as laborers.

Tribute

A payment made to a superior authority as a sign of allegiance or gratitude.

Valladolid Debate

A debate on the morality of enslaving Native Americans, sparked by King Charles I in the 1550s.

Aztecs

An advanced civilization in Mexico known for their written language, agriculture, and religious sacrifices.

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers and conquerors who invaded and claimed lands in the Americas.

Montezuma

The Aztec emperor known for his encounters with Spanish conquistadors, whose reign ended with his murder.

Requerimiento

A document outlining the duty of conquistadors to convert Native Americans to Christianity.

Hernán Cortes

A conquistador who overthrew the Aztec empire for Spain.

Francisco Pizarro

A conquistador best known for conquering the Inca Empire.