APUSH Period 1 (1491-1607)

Columbian Exchange

The exchange of goods, crops, and diseases between the New World and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that trade generates wealth and is stimulated by the accumulation of profitable balances, which government should encourage.

Great Basin

A region in the western United States characterized by arid conditions, leading to mostly mobile lifestyles among its inhabitants.

Joint-stock companies

Businesses formed by groups of people who share the profits and losses of a venture, often used to fund exploration.

Hunter Gatherer Societies

Communities that rely on hunting, fishing, and gathering wild plants for subsistence.

Spanish Conquistadores

Spanish conquerors responsible for the exploration and colonization of much of the Americas.

European Disease

Illnesses brought by Europeans that decimated Native American populations, including smallpox and measles.

Pueblo Revolt (1680)

An uprising of Pueblo people against Spanish colonizers in present-day New Mexico.

Caste System

A hierarchical social structure that influenced social and racial categories in colonial Spanish America.

Impact of contact between Europeans and Native Americans

Significant demographic, cultural, and economic changes due to interaction between European settlers and Native populations.

Migration

The movement of people from one region to another, often for the purpose of finding new resources or opportunities.

Northwest Passage

A sea route through the Arctic Ocean, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, sought by explorers.

Puritans

A group of English Reformers who sought to purify the Church of England and who ultimately settled in New England.

Encomienda System

A Spanish labor system that rewarded Spanish settlers with the labor of indigenous people.

Comparison between Spanish and English colonization

Examines different motivations, methods, and impacts of Spanish versus English colonial practices in the Americas.

Nationalism

A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often leading to the promotion of national identity.

Mississippi River Valley

A region rich in resources, supporting mixed agricultural and hunter-gatherer economies with permanent settlements.

Agricultural development from maize

The spread of maize cultivation from Mexico to the Southwest influenced economic development and cultural changes.