Untitled Flashcards Set

Great Columbian / Biological Exchange

Exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and Europe after 1492.

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer who sailed for Spain in 1492; initiated European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Bartolomé de las Casas

Spanish priest who opposed mistreatment of Native Americans and advocated for their rights.

Spanish Empire

Controlled large parts of the Americas; sought gold, spread Christianity, and used the encomienda system.

French Empire

Established fur trade in Canada and Mississippi Valley; allied with Native Americans, especially through Jesuit missionaries.

English / British Empire

Colonized the Atlantic Coast; focused on permanent settlements and agriculture; often clashed with Native peoples.

Encomienda System

Spanish labor system that granted colonists land and the right to enslave Native labor in exchange for Christianizing them.

Mestizo

Person of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry; common in Spanish colonies, reflecting cultural blending.

Pueblo Revolt (1680)

Uprising of Pueblo Indians in New Mexico against Spanish rule; temporarily drove Spaniards out of the region.

Juan de Oñate

Spanish conquistador who led violent conquests in the Southwest; known for Acoma Massacre.

Maize Cultivation

Corn farming practiced by Native peoples; supported complex societies and population growth, especially in the Southwest.

Atlantic World

Interactions between Europe, Africa, and the Americas; involved trade, colonization, and cultural exchange.

Joint-stock Companies

Businesses owned by investors that funded colonization; reduced individual risk (e.g., Virginia Company).

Mission System

Spanish effort to convert Native Americans to Christianity through missions; used especially in California and the Southwest.

Horses (Columbian Exchange)

Brought by Europeans; transformed Native life on the Great Plains by improving hunting and mobility.

Smallpox (Columbian Exchange)

Deadly disease brought by Europeans; devastated Native populations lacking immunity.