History Ch1

Discovery

The term previously used to describe European exploration, conquest, and colonization, now considered misleading due to the presence of millions of indigenous people.

Columbus's Voyage

Initiated significant historical developments, marking a turning point in global history.

Aztec Empire

A civilization with its capital at Tenochtitlan, boasting a population of 250,000 and controlling 5 to 6 million people.

Inca Empire

A civilization with nearly 12 million people connected by an extensive road system in the Andes.

Chinook

Northwestern Indians who lived on the Pacific coast, relying on hunting and fishing for survival.

Moundbuilders

Ohio and Mississippi Indians, known for their earthworks, part of the Adena culture.

Pueblo

Southwestern Indians, descendants of the Anasazi, who utilized desert irrigation for agriculture.

Iroquois Confederation

A political alliance of five tribes in the Eastern Woodlands that promoted stability and permanent settlements.

Polynesian Influence

Evidence of pre-Columbian contact with the Americas, including Peruvian mummies and sweet potatoes found on islands.

Viking Exploration

Led by Leif Ericson around 1000 AD, with evidence of their presence in Minnesota.

Prince Madoc

A Welsh prince who allegedly landed in Mobile Bay in 1169, influencing local tribes.

Abubakari II

A Mali king who left in 1312, suggesting African influences on Native American cultures.

Zheng He

A Chinese explorer whose treasure fleet may have reached the Americas between 1404 and 1430.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of goods, diseases, and cultures between the Old and New Worlds following Columbus's voyages.

Encomienda System

A Spanish labor system that exploited Native Americans, later abolished in 1550.

Bartolomé de la Casas

A Dominican friar who advocated for the rights of Native Americans and opposed Spanish atrocities.

St

The first permanent European settlement in North America, established by the Spanish in 1565.

French Colonization

Focused on fur trapping and maintaining better relations with Native Americans compared to the Spanish.

Sea Dogs

English privateers authorized to raid Spanish ships, contributing to tensions between England and Spain.

Roanoke Island

An early English colony established by Sir Walter Raleigh that mysteriously disappeared, leaving only "CROATOAN" carved in a tree.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in America, established in 1607 by the Virginia Company of London, facing numerous challenges.