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.