Native American Cultures & Regions
Name the three staple crops grown by early Native Americans, known as "The Three Sisters
Corn (maize), beans, and squash
What was the capital city of the Aztec Empire, built on an island in a lake?
Tenochtitlan
Who funded Christopher Columbus's voyage across the Atlantic Ocean?
King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain
Which Spanish conquistador conquered the Aztec Empire between 1519-1521?
Hernando Cortés
What deadly European disease killed millions of Native Americans who had no immunity to it?
Smallpox
Which Native American culture built the large earthen mound called Monks Mound near present-day St. Louis?
Mississippian people (culture)
Which civilization is known for creating giant stone heads and influencing later Mesoamerican cultures?
Olmec
Name the three ships Columbus sailed on his first voyage.
Niña, Pinta, and Santa María
Name three technological advantages the Spanish had over the Aztecs in battle
Horses, steel swords and armor, guns (arquebuses/muskets), cannons (any three)
Name three foods that traveled from the New World to the Old World in the Columbian Exchange
Corn (maize), potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, beans, squash, peanuts, cocoa, pineapples, turkeys (any three)
Match the lifestyle to the region: Which Native American groups followed buffalo herds and lived in tipis?
Great Plains tribes
Name the Inca ruler who greatly expanded the empire during the 1400s
Pachacuti
Which Portuguese prince encouraged exploration along the west coast of Africa and helped develop better ships and navigation techniques?
Henry the Navigator
What is a presidio, and what is a mission? How did they work together on the Spanish frontier?
A presidio was a fort that protected settlers and soldiers. A mission was a religious settlement where missionaries converted Native Americans to Christianity. Presidios protected nearby missions
What are mestizos?
People of mixed European (Spanish) and Native American ancestry
Explain why the Pacific Northwest tribes were able to live in permanent villages while Great Plains tribes were nomadic
Pacific Northwest tribes had abundant salmon and other resources in one place, while Great Plains tribes had to follow migrating buffalo herds for food
Why did the Aztecs practice human sacrifice and bloodletting? What purpose did these rituals serve?
They believed these practices honored and nourished the gods; it was part of their religious beliefs about maintaining cosmic balance.
List three reasons (one from each category) why Europeans explored the Americas: political, economic, and intangible.
Political: competition for power/territory; Economic: find trade routes, obtain gold/silver/spices; Intangible: spread Christianity, desire for adventure/fame
Describe the Pueblo Revolt of 1680. Who led it, and what was the outcome?
Led by Popé, Pueblo peoples successfully drove the Spanish out of New Mexico for about 12 years because of religious persecution, forced labor, and harsh Spanish rule.
Explain the "demographic catastrophe" that occurred after European contact with Native Americans.
European diseases (smallpox, measles, influenza) killed millions of Native Americans. Warfare and forced labor also contributed, causing Native populations to decline dramatically.
Compare the gender roles in Native American societies. Name three tasks typically performed by men and three by women.
Men: hunted, fished, cleared fields, built homes, served as warriors, protected villages. Women: farmed crops, gathered food, prepared meals, raised children, made clothing/baskets/pottery, owned property
The Maya developed advanced knowledge in three specific areas. Name all three.
Mathematics, astronomy, and writing
Why did Columbus call the people he met "Indians," and why was this a mistake? Who helped Europeans realize the truth?
Columbus thought he had reached the Indies of Asia by sailing west. Amerigo Vespucci's writings helped Europeans recognize that Columbus had reached a new continent, not Asia.
After the Pueblo Revolt, the Spanish changed their policies. Name two specific changes they made
They became more tolerant of Pueblo religious practices, reduced forced labor demands, and relied more on cooperation and alliances with Pueblo peoples (any two).
Why did African slaves become in such high demand in the New World? Give at least three reasons.
Native American populations declined from disease; plantation agriculture required large numbers of laborers; Europeans believed Africans were more resistant to tropical diseases; the Atlantic slave trade provided a steady supply of workers (any three).