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Chapter 1: New World Beginnings Flashcards

American Pageant 13th edition

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766457384Theory of PangaeaThe theory that suggests that the continents were once together in one huge continent and then spread out as drifting islands.
766457385Appalachian and Rocky MountainsCreated by geologic forces of continental plates.
766457386Land Bridge TheoryAbout 35k years ago. A theory that suggests that after the Great Ice Age, land bridges emerged, linking Asia & North America across (today) the Bering Sea.
766457387IncasIn Peru. Had elaborate network of roads and bridges linking their empire.
766457388MayasIn Yucatan Peninsula. Had step pyramids.
766457389AztecsIn Mexico. Had step pyramids and huge sacrifices of conquered peoples.
766457390maize (corn)This food developed around 5,000 BC. Revolutionary because people didn't have to be hunter-gatherers. They could settle down and be farmers. Led to rise of towns and cities. Arrived in present day U.S. around 1,200 B.C.
766457391Pueblo IndiansFirst American corn growers. Lived in adobe houses and pueblos. Had an elaborate irrigation system to draw water away from rivers to drown corn.
766457392PueblosVillages of cubicle shaped adobe houses, stacked one on top of the other and often beneath cliffs.
766457393Mound BuildersIn Ohio Valley. They built huge ceremonial and burial mounds. Cahokia settlement in Mississippi had 40k people.
766457394Eastern IndiansMade of up Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Iroquois. Grew corn, beans, and squash in three sister farming. They most likely had the best diet of all North American Indians.
766457395three sister farmingIn this system, corn grew in a stalk. This provided a trellis for beans. Beans grew up the stalk. Squash had broad leaves that kept the sun off the ground. This kept the moister in the soil.
766457396HiawathaThe legendary leader of the Iroquois Confederation.
766457397Iroquois ConfederationIn NY. A group of 5 tribes. Matrilineal. Each tribe kept their independence, but met to discuss matters of common interest. Not normal because Indians usually separated and scattered.
766457398Native American Views- the tribe owned land, not one man - nature was mixed with many spirits - nature was sacred - little or no concept or interest in money
766457399European Views- like private property - Christian and monotheistic - nature & land was given to man by God - loved money/gold
766457400NorseFirst Europeans to come to America. Around 1000 AD. But left no written record and didn't get credit. Only sagas and songs held some record.
766457401Erik the Red & Leif EriksonAround 1000 AD. Landed in Newfoundland (or Vinland).
766457402Marco PoloHe traveled to China. Stirred up European interest for spices. Trade flourished but had to be overland. This initiated new exploration in hopes for an all water route.
766457403Cape of Good HopeThe southern tip of Africa. Sailors had trouble coming home because of the northerly winds and south-flowing currents.
766457404caravelA ship with a triangular sail that could maneuver ahead into the wind and return to Europe from the African coast.
766457405astrolabeA sextant gizmo that could tell a ship's latitude.
766457406Sahara DesertThe first slave trade was across here. Later, trade was along the West African coast.
766457407slave trade in AfricaSlave traders "busted up" tribes and families to squelch any possible uprising. Slaves would go to sugar plantations on tropical islands off of the African coast.
766457408Christopher ColumbusHe convinced Isabella & Ferdinand to fund his expedition. His goal was to read the East Indies by sailing west, thus bypassing the around-Africa route. He misjudged the size of the Earth and actually landed in the Bahamas. He mistook the people as "Indians."
766457409New World to Old WorldBrought corn, potatoes, tobacco, beans, peppers, manioc, pumpkin, squash, tomato, wild rice, gold, silver, vanilla, chocolate, syphilis
766457410Old World to New WorldBrought wheat, sugar, rice, coffee, horses, cows, pigs, smallpox, measles, bubonic plague, influenza, typhus, diphtheria, scarlet fever
766457411Treaty Line of TordesillasIn 1494. Portugal & Spain feuded over who got what land. The Pope, who was respected, drew the line. It ran North-South, chopped off Brazilian coast of South America. Portugal got Brazil and land around/under Africa. Spain got everything west of that line.
766457412Vasco BalboaHe "discovered" the Pacific Ocean across isthmus of Panama.
766457413Ferdinand magellanHe circumnavigated the globe and was the first to do so.
766457414Ponce de LeonWhile looking for the Fountain of Youth, he touched and named Florida.
766457415Hernando de SotoHe entered Florida, traveled up into present day SE U.S. and is "buried" in Mississippi River.
766457416Francisco PizarroHe conquered Incan Empire and shipped tons of gold/silver back to Spain. Created inflation in Europe.
766457417Francisco CoronadoHe ventured into current SW U.S. looking for El Dorado. He actually found Pueblo Indians.
766457418Encomienda systemA system where Indians were given to Spanish landlords. It was the idea that Indians would work and be converted to Christianity. Reality: Slavery on a sugar plantation disguised as missionary work.
766457419Hernando CortezHe conquered the Aztecs at Tenochtitlan. He traveled from Cuba to (present day) Vera Cruz. Then marched over the mountains.
766457420MontezumaThe Aztec king. He thought Cortez might be the god Quetzalcoatl and welcomed into Tenochtitlan.
766457421Noche TristeThe night when the Spanish attacked Montezuma for gold. Eventually, it was smallpox that beat the Aztecs.
766457422Mexico CityAfter the Spanish destroyed Tenochtitlan, they built the Spanish capital on top of the city. Mestizos emerged.
766457423MestizosA race of people that came from a mix of Spanish and Indian blood.
766457424John CabotAn Italian who sailed for England. He touched the coast of current U.S.
766457425Giovanni de VerrazanoFrom France. He touched the North American seaboard.
766457426Jacques CartierFrom France. He went into mouth of St. Lawrence River in Canada.
766457427Don Juan de OnateHe followed Coronado's old path into present day new Mexico. Conquered Indians ruthlessly. He would cut off one foot of survivors just so they'd remember.
766457428Pope's RebellionPueblo Indians revolted, despite Spanish mission efforts.
766457429Robert de LaSalleFrom France. He sailed down the Mississippi River; claiming the whole region for King Louis and naming it "Louisiana."
766457430Black LegendThe notion that Spaniards only brought bad things. It is partly accurate because of disease, slavery, and murder. But they also brought law systems, architecture, Christianity, language, and civilization.

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