AP Unit 1 Comprehensive Review: The Contact Period

Pre-Columbian

Refers to the history of the Americas before the arrival of Columbus in 1492.

Bering Land Bridge

A land connection between Siberia and Alaska that allowed the first humans to migrate to the Americas.

Animism

A belief system where the natural world is seen as having spiritual power.

Matrilineal

A social structure where lineage and power are passed down through women.

The Three Sisters

A farming technique where corn, beans, and squash are grown together, commonly practiced by Northeastern Native American societies.

Encomienda System

A labor system where Spanish colonists were granted authority over a number of Natives in exchange for protection and Christianization.

Repartimiento System

A labor system that replaced the Encomienda, offering slightly more regulation but still oppressive forced labor.

Asiento System

A system for importing enslaved Africans to the Americas as Native populations declined.

Peninsulares

People born in Spain, holding the highest positions of power in the Spanish colonies.

Creoles (Criollos)

People of Spanish descent born in the Americas.

Mestizos

Individuals of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry.

Mulattos

Individuals of mixed Spanish and African ancestry.

Maroon Communities

Settlements formed by escaped enslaved Africans, often in remote areas.

Columbian Exchange

The trans-Atlantic trade of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the New and Old Worlds.

Capitalism

An economic system that emerged partly due to the influx of wealth from the Americas, ending Feudalism.

Iroquois Confederacy

A political alliance of several Native American tribes in the Northeastern region of North America.

Casta

The social hierarchy of the Spanish colonial system based on race and ethnicity.

Spanish Century

The period in the 1500s when Spain was the dominant European power in the Americas.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal dividing newly discovered lands in the Americas.

Cortés

A Spanish conquistador known for conquering the Aztec Empire.

Pizarro

A Spanish conquistador known for conquering the Inca Empire.

Mortality rates

The percentage of deaths in a population, notably high due to diseases brought by Europeans.

Population Boom

A rapid increase in population, especially in Europe due to the introduction of high-calorie crops from the Americas.

Joint-Stock Companies

Business models where investors pooled capital to fund colonization and reduce risks.

Christopher Columbus

An Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for the widespread European exploration.

Horses (Pre-Columbian Context)

Animals that were not present in the Americas before the arrival of Europeans.

Valladolid Debate

A moral debate in Spain regarding the treatment and humanity of Native Americans.

Cultural Syncretism

The blending of different cultural traditions, often seen in the context of African and Christian traditions.

Military Resistance

Native American responses to conquest that included armed conflict and defense of territory.

Economic Impact

The ways in which the Columbian Exchange and European colonization affected economies in the Old World and the New World.

Taino

A Caribbean indigenous people encountered by Columbus in 1492.

Nomadic Hunting & Gathering

A lifestyle characterized by movement in search of food, commonly practiced by Great Plains tribes.

Permanent Settlements

Communities established for long-term habitation, such as those built by the Pueblos.

Spanish Colonial Caste System

A hierarchical social structure in Spanish colonies based on race and ethnicity.

Glory (Exploration Motivation)

The pursuit of personal or national prestige and fame as a reason for European exploration.

God (Exploration Motivation)

The desire to spread Christianity as part of the motivations for European exploration.

Gold (Exploration Motivation)

The quest for wealth and resources, driving European nations to explore new lands.

Joint-Stock Companies

Investment schemes that funded exploration and colonization by pooling investor money.

Pueblo Revolt

An uprising of Pueblo people against Spanish colonial rule in 1680.

Disease (Impact on Native American Populations)

Epidemics, such as smallpox, that caused the significant decline of Native populations after European contact.

Fermented Beverages

Drinks, often rooted in indigenous practices, that were sometimes adapted by African slaves.

Technological Enablement of Exploration

Advancements in maritime technology that facilitated trans-Atlantic voyages.

Bison Hunting

A key economic activity for tribes of the Great Plains, requiring a nomadic lifestyle.

Agriculture in Northeastern Tribes

The practice of mixed farming and the cultivation of the 'Three Sisters' for food production.

Rigidity in Northwestern Social Structures

Social hierarchies that were notably strict among resources-abundant tribes in the Pacific Northwest.

Cultural Preservation

The act of maintaining traditional beliefs and practices amidst colonization.