Native American societies before European contact
What were some of the main types of environments Native American societies adapted to before European contact?
deserts, woodlands, grasslands, coasts
What is the term for the desire to spread Christianity that motivated many European explorers to come to America?
God
What was the most immediate and dramatic impact of the Columbian Exchange on the Americas?
The spread of diseases that devastated indigenous populations
What was the primary motivation for Spanish explorers and conquistadors to colonize the Americas?
The search for gold, wealth, and resources.
What was one major difference between Native American and European views on land use?
Natives saw land as communal and spiritual, while Europeans believed in private ownership
Which crop’s cultivation spread from present-day Mexico and supported economic development and settlement in the American Southwest?
Maize
Which valuable resources were European explorers and monarchs hoping to find in the Americas to increase their wealth?
Gold and other riches
Which staple crops from the Americas transformed diets and populations in Europe, Africa, and Asia?
Potatoes, maize (corn), and cassava
Which system did the Spanish use to organize labor and tribute from Native Americans in their colonies?
The encomienda system.
Which European-introduced animal transformed hunting and warfare for many Plains Native American societies?
The horse
How did Native societies in the Great Plains and Great Basin primarily obtain their food before European contact?
Hunting and gathering, especially bison hunting
What was the name of the economic policy that encouraged European nations to acquire colonies for the benefit of the mother country?
Mercantilism
What new animals introduced by Europeans changed transportation and agriculture in the Americas?
Horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats
Who was the Spanish conquistador that led the conquest of the Aztec Empire in present-day Mexico?
Hernán Cortés
What was a common reason for cooperation between Native Americans and Europeans in the early years of contact?
Trade and Natives wanted metal goods and weapons; Europeans wanted furs and food.
What were some features of the complex societies found in the Mississippi River Valley, such as Cahokia?
Large towns, mound-building, extensive trade networks
Which European country was especially motivated by the search for a direct water route to Asia, leading to the accidental discovery of the Americas?
Spain or Portugal
How did the Columbian Exchange contribute to the rise of the Atlantic slave trade?
Massive population loss from disease led to labor shortages, so Europeans imported enslaved Africans to work in the Americas
What was the name of the Spanish colonial social hierarchy that placed Spaniards born in Spain at the top?
The casta system, with peninsulares at the top
How did differences in religious beliefs often lead to misunderstandings and conflict between Native Americans and Europeans?
Europeans practiced exclusive Christianity, while Natives had diverse, often inclusive spiritual beliefs
How did Native American societies in the Pacific Northwest differ from those in the Southwest in terms of subsistence and housing?
Pacific Northwest: fishing, permanent plank houses, Southwest: farming, adobe or cliff dwellings
How did the promise of social mobility and land ownership motivate some Europeans to settle in the New World?
Many Europeans, especially those from lower classes, sought opportunities for a better life, land, and status unavailable to them in Europe.
How did the introduction of new species during the Columbian Exchange disrupt native ecosystems?
Non-native plants and animals outcompeted local species, altering environments and food chains
How did Spanish colonization impact Native American populations and cultures?
It led to widespread death from disease, forced labor, cultural assimilation, and the destruction of indigenous societies.
What was one way Native Americans resisted European cultural and territorial encroachment?
Through military action, diplomatic negotiations, and maintaining traditional practices, like the Pueblo Revolt.