Native American Cultures and European Exploration

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the study of Native American cultures and European exploration.

Nomad

A person or group of people who move from place to place.

First Americans

Early inhabitants of the Americas who were hunter-gatherers and did not practice farming.

Three Sisters Cropping

A farming technique involving squash, corn, and beans that provide different nutrients and grow in different seasons.

Mesoamerican Empires

Civilizations like the Inca, Aztec, and Mayan that thrived in Middle America.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, built in the middle of a lake for trade.

Polytheistic

Belief in multiple gods and goddesses.

Hierarchical society

A social structure in which people are ranked one above the other.

Chichen Itza

An archaeological site of the Maya civilization located in Mexico, known for its large temples.

Cahokia

The largest city of the Mississippians at peak population, located along the Mississippi River.

Matrilineal

A social system in which lineage is traced through the mother.

Buffalo

An important animal to the Great Plains tribes, providing food, clothing, and materials.

Caravel

A fast and maneuverable ship developed in the 15th century by the Portuguese.

Sextant

An instrument used to measure altitudes for navigation purposes.

Magnetic Compass

A tool that uses Earth's magnetic field to determine direction.

Age of Discovery

A period during which European states began exploring and colonizing other parts of the world.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A 1494 agreement that divided the New World between Spain and Portugal.

Requerimiento

A document that stated Native lands were considered as belonging to Spain, and the people were Spanish subjects.

Encomienda System

A system that allowed Spanish colonists to demand labor from indigenous people.

Asiento System

A system of forced labor that involved African slaves replacing the indigenous workforce.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of goods, ideas, and diseases between the New and Old Worlds.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes building wealth through a positive balance of trade.

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic trade of enslaved Africans to the Americas.

Spanish Conquistadors

Spanish explorers who conquered territories in the Americas.

Hernán Cortés

A conquistador known for defeating the Aztec Empire.

Francisco Pizarro

A conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire.

Bartolomeu Dias

Explorer who first sailed around the Cape of Good Hope.

Vasco da Gama

The first person to sail directly from Europe to India.

Pueblo Revolt

An uprising of the Pueblo people against Spanish colonization in 1680.

Joint-Stock Companies

Businesses formed to raise capital through the sale of stock.

Virginia Company

A joint-stock company created to establish a settlement in North America.

Smallpox

A contagious disease that had a devastating impact on Native American populations.

Influenza

A viral infection that affected a vast number of people during the contact period.

Potatoes

A crop introduced to Europe from the Americas that became a staple food.

Maize

A key agricultural product of the Americas, also known as corn.

Cacao

A crop introduced to Europe from the Americas, used to make chocolate.

Syphilis

A sexually transmitted disease that was transferred from the Americas to Europe.

Livestock

Domesticated animals raised for food, which were brought to the Americas from Europe.

Terraced Farming

An agricultural practice involving growing crops on sloped land in steps.

Ancient Societies

Early human communities defined by their subsistence and cultural practices.

Abandonment of Cahokia

Caused by disease brought by Spanish explorers.

Adobe

A building material made from earth and organic materials, used by Pueblo peoples.

Anasazi

An ancient Native American culture known for its cliff dwellings in the Southwestern United States.

Nomadic Tribes of the Great Plains

Indigenous groups that followed buffalo herds and lived in temporary dwellings.

Irrigation Techniques

Methods used by Pueblo cultures to bring water to crops.

God, Gold, Glory

The primary motivations for European exploration.

Scorched Earth Tactics

Military strategy involving the destruction of resources to deny them to the enemy.

Quetzalcoatl

Aztec deity associated with knowledge, culture, and wind.

Mayan Calendar

An advanced timekeeping system created by the Maya civilization.

Human Sacrifice in Aztec Culture

A ritual practice involving the offering of human lives to appease gods.

Hieroglyphics

A system of writing using symbols and images, primarily associated with the ancient Egyptians but also used by the Maya.

Spanish Colonization

The establishment of Spanish control over various territories in the Americas.

Great Plains Economies

Dependent on hunting, specifically bison, and nomadic lifestyles.

Pacific Northwest Characteristics

Region known for fishing and logging activities.

San Juan Capistrano

Historic mission established by Spanish settlers in California.

Spanish Crown

The monarchy that ruled Spain and its colonies.

Roman Catholic Church

The Christian church led by the Pope in Rome, which played a significant role during the Age of Exploration.

Bubonic Plague

A devastating pandemic in Europe that resulted in significant population loss during the 14th century.

Population Growth in Europe

Resulted from the influx of new crops from the Americas.

Cultural Interactions

The exchanges and influences between different societal groups.

European Diseases

Many diseases that devastated Native American populations during contact.

Spanish Missions

Religious settlements established to convert Native Americans to Christianity.

Goldsmithing

The craft of making objects out of gold, highly skilled in Inca culture.

Agricultural Techniques of the Incas

Advanced methods that included terrace farming and irrigation.

600 AD

Approximate date of the formation of the Mesoamerican cultures.

Viking Exploration

Early exploration by Scandinavian seafarers who reached North America long before Columbus.

Fame of Columbus

Resulted from his 1492 voyage, despite earlier Viking presence.

Treaty of Tordesillas Effect

Legal division of the New World between Spain and Portugal.

Draught Animals

Animals used for pulling loads and farming activities.

Population Decline among Native Americans

Result of diseases introduced by European settlers.

Native American Cultures

Diverse societies with unique customs, agricultural practices, and belief systems.

Civilizations of Mesoamerica

Highly organized societies that developed complex social, political, and economic structures.

Mississippi River Valley

Region significant for trade and agricultural development among native societies.

Burning Forests

A technique used by Eastern Woodland tribes for hunting and agriculture.

Plantation System

An agricultural system based on large-scale farming of cash crops using forced labor.

15th Century Exploration

A time when European nations began to explore and colonize parts of the world.

Cacao Trade

The commerce of cacao beans which became highly valued in Europe.

Spanish Gold and Silver

Valuable resources extracted from the Americas and shipped back to Spain.

Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Information and practices developed by native peoples over generations.

Human Rights Violations

Abuses inflicted upon indigenous populations during colonization.

Poverty in Spanish Colonies

Resulted from the exploitative practices established during colonization.

Anasazi Society

Known for their advanced agricultural methods and cliff dwellings.

Spanish Settlements

Communities established by Spanish colonizers in the Americas.

Farming vs. Hunting-Gathering

Two contrasting methods of subsistence employed by native peoples.

Suppression of Native Religions

Efforts by Europeans to replace indigenous beliefs with Christianity.

Native American Resistance

Opposition by indigenous peoples against European colonization efforts.

Cultural Legacy of Indigenous Peoples

Influences and traditions preserved by Native cultures despite colonization.

Social Stratification

The hierarchical arrangement of individuals within a society.

Sapa Inca

The emperor of the Inca Empire, considered a descendant of the sun god.

Olmec Civilization

One of the earliest American civilizations, known for its colossal heads and influence.

Aztec Capital

Tenochtitlan, a city built on a lake, key to trade and agricultural practices.

Mesoamerican Calendar

A sophisticated timekeeping system that shaped cultural practices.

Incan Road System

An extensive network of roads that facilitated trade throughout the empire.

Impact of European Exploration

Significantly altered the course of global history and indigenous societies.

Contribution of Native Crops to Europe

Native American crops like maize and potatoes enhanced European diets.

Cultural Exchange

The sharing of ideas, customs, and products among different societies.

Chinampas

Floating gardens used by the Aztecs for agriculture.

Significance of Gold

A primary motivation for conquest and colonization.

Spanish Crown's Justification for Conquest

The desire to expand territory and spread Christianity.

Contributions to Modern Agriculture

Innovations from indigenous farming methods.

Role of Women in Native Societies

Varying responsibilities and statuses across different tribes.