Notes on Period 1 (1491-1607)

Overview

This period marks the time before and during the early European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Settlements (Pre-1492)

Southwest Settlements

Notable for complex societies and irrigation systems.

Northwest Settlements

Known for fishing and totem poles; rich in natural resources.

Great Plains

Primarily nomadic tribes; relied on buffalo hunting.

Midwest Settlements

Included mound-building cultures like the Adena-Hopewell.

Northeast Settlements

Tribes such as the Iroquois Confederacy; known for longhouses and agriculture.

Southeast Settlements

Agricultural societies with a focus on maize and other crops.

Key Concepts

Columbian Exchange (early 1500s to early 1800s)

Exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the Old World and the New World.

Encomienda System (1503-1542)

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

Mercantilism (1500s-early 1800s)

Economic theory that trade generates wealth; led to colonial expansion.

Triangular Trade (1500s-1800s)

Trade system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving slaves, raw materials, and manufactured goods.

Middle Passage (1500s-1800s)

The sea route taken by slave ships from West Africa to the Americas.

Agricultural Practices

Corn/Maize

A staple crop that became a significant part of the diet in the Americas.

Three Sisters Farming

Agricultural technique involving the planting of corn, beans, and squash together for mutual benefits.

Indigenous Cultures

Beringia

Land bridge that connected Asia and North America, facilitating migration.

Adena-Hopewell

Known for their earthworks and burial mounds in the Midwest.

Anasazi Pueblos

Cliff dwellers in the Southwest known for their advanced architecture.

Notable Tribes

Lakota Sioux

Nomadic tribe of the Great Plains, known for their horse culture.

Mayans, Incas, Aztecs

Advanced civilizations in Mesoamerica with significant achievements in agriculture, architecture, and governance.

European Exploration

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers and conquerors, such as Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro, who sought wealth and territory.

Key Figures

Christopher Columbus: Credited with the European discovery of the Americas in 1492.

Ferdinand and Isabella: Spanish monarchs who sponsored Columbus's voyages.

Henry the Navigator: Portuguese prince who promoted exploration.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Agreement between Spain and Portugal dividing newly discovered lands.

Social Structures

Nation-State

Emergence of centralized governments in Europe that sought to expand their territories.

Iroquois Confederacy

A political alliance of several tribes in the Northeast, known for their democratic governance.

Cultural and Economic Systems

Feudalism

Social system in medieval Europe that influenced early colonial structures.

Capitalism

Economic system that emerged in Europe, driving exploration and colonization.

Casta System

Social hierarchy in Spanish colonies based on race and ethnicity.

Debates and Philosophies

Valladolid Debate

Discussion on the treatment of indigenous peoples and the morality of colonization.

Bartolomé de Las Casas

Advocate for the rights of indigenous peoples.

Juan Gines de Sepulveda

Opponent of Las Casas, argued for the justification of conquest.

Navigation and Technology

Compass

Instrument that improved navigation during the Age of Exploration.

Caravel

A type of ship that allowed for longer voyages and exploration.

Cultural Practices

Matrilineal Societies

Societies where lineage and inheritance are traced through the mother.

Fur Trade

Coureurs de bois

French fur traders who established trade networks with Native Americans.