Name - __________________________
Individuals and Societies – 7
Date ___________________
Vocabulary
The Seeds of Culture - Unit 1 Vocabulary
1. Land bridge – Land that connects two regions
2. Mesoamerica – A region that stretches from modern day Mexico to Nicaragua where
several pre-Columbian civilizations lived including the Olmec, Maya, and Aztecs.
3. The Three Sisters – Corn, Beans and Squash; the food staples for the Native
American people
4. Maya - A Mesoamerican civilization of southern Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula) and
Central America. They established a vast empire that had many achievements
including: monumental architecture, the concept of zero, a written language and a
calendar
5. Slash and Burn Farming – Method of farming used by people who live in dense forests.
People would cut the trees and burn to provide rich soil, however, does not sustain
farming for long period of time
6. Aztec - A Mesoamerican civilization of (Central) Mexico who created a strong empire
that had many cultural achievements, including architecture, aqueducts, chinampas
and causeways.
7. Chinampas – Artificial floating islands anchored to the lake bottom and were used for
agriculture. This technique was used by the Aztecs.
8. Inca - A Mesoamerican civilization of South America, centered in Peru. The Inca ruled a
large empire and had many cultural and scientific achievements including an
elaborate road system, monumental architecture, and terrace farming.
9. Terrace Farming – Farming method that cuts steps into the sides of mountains and
hillsides.
10. Inuit – A tribe of Native American people that live near present day Alaska and built
homes made of ice
11. Anasazi (Pueblo) –Native Americans tribes that lived near modern day Arizona and
New Mexico who made their homes from sun dried brick made from mud.
12. Iroquois – Native American Tribes that lived in the Northeast between the Great
Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean or the eastern woodlands
13. Haudenosaunee – Term that means “People of the Long house”
14. League of Iroquois – Confederation or alliance of Iroquoian speakers that consisted
of the Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida and Mohawk people. The League kept
peace among tribes, unified warfare against outsiders and were successful in
dealing with the English and French colonists
15. Algonquians – People that lived to the north and east of the Iroquois and allied
themselves with the French to control the fur trade
16. People of the Great Plains – Nomadic people that migrated seasonally to hunt
buffalo from the Rocky Mountains to the Mississippi River; There were over
three dozen or more Tribes including the Cheyenne, Crow, Iowa, Pawnee, Sioux
and Apache
17. Animism – The oldest known type of belief system in the world. Animists believe
that all living and nonliving objects in the universe has a spirit and also practice
ancestor worship
18. Sahara Desert – Largest desert in world, located in North Africa
19. Islam - A monotheistic religion in the world; founded by the Prophet Muhammad, in
Mecca; Beliefs include the Five Pillars of Islam, and readings from the Qur’an
20. Muslim – A follower of the Islamic faith
21. Ghana Empire – West African Trading Kingdom from AD 700 - 1000. They were rich
in gold and established a vast trading network across the Sahara desert.
22. Mali Empire – West African Trading Kingdom from AD 1200 - 1400. They were rich in
gold and established a vast trading network across the Sahara desert.
23. Renaissance – The “rebirth” of European society that led to an increased interest in
art and learning
24. Reformation – Movement in Christianity that led to the split between the Catholic
Church and Protestants
25. Christianity - A monotheistic religion; It was founded by Jesus; Main beliefs include
the 10 Commandments, atonement of sins, and readings from the Old and New
Testaments (Bible)
26. Roman Catholics – Christians that follow the Roman Catholic Church that is led by
the Pope
27. Protestants – Christians who “protested” the practices of the Catholic Church and
formed their own Christian Churches
28. Printing Press – printing devise invented by Johannes Gutenberg that mechanically
inked paper; this invention led to an increase in literacy rates
29. Age of Exploration – Time period where Europeans looked for alternative trade
routes to Asia in search of spices. This period led to the “discovery” and conquest
of the Americas
30. Spices – valuable resources that were used to flavor food, as medicines and perfumes
31. Mercantilism - The policy of building a nation's wealth by exporting more goods
than it imports; Wealth=Power; Mother country benefits ($$) from colonies
32. Colonization - A group of people moving from their homeland to a new area in large
numbers.
33. Conquistadors - Spanish conqueror or soldier in the Americas
34. Hernan Cortez – Spanish Conquistador that conquered the Aztecs
35. Francisco Pizarro – Spanish conquistador that conquered the Inca
36. Henry Hudson – English Explorer who sailed for the Dutch and landed at the coast
of present day New York
37. Jacques Carter – French Sailor who sailed up the St. Lawrence River to present-day
Montreal.
38. Samuel de Champlain – founder of the fur-trading post in Quebec
39. New France – first permanent French settlement in North America that stretched
from present day Canada along the great Lakes and in present day USA along the
Mississippi River.
40. New Netherland – Dutch settlements that were located in Present day New York
41. Smallpox - A highly contagious disease whose origins are from the Eastern hemisphere;
Native Americans had no immune system for this disease which caused millions to
die (up to 90% of their population)
42. Missionaries – People who went to the New World to convert Native Americans to
Christianity
43. Triangular Trade – Trading system that occurred between Europe, Africa, and the
Americas; Raw materials from the Americas, manufactured goods from Europe,
and slaves from Africa.
44. Columbian Exchange – The vast trading system that resulted from Columbus’
voyages to the new world; the exchange of goods, ideas, people, animals, plants,
and disease from the Old World to the New World and vice versa.
45. Bartolome de Las Casa – Spaniard who fought for Native American rights but
subsequently led to the African slave trade
46. Plantation – Large farm that raises cash crops
47. Middle Passage – The forced voyage of slaves from Africa to the Americas over the
Atlantic Ocean; It is believed that millions perished during the voyages
48. Slave – someone who is captured or bought and used in forced, unpaid labor
49. Slave Codes – Law passed to regulate the treatment of Slaves
50. Racism – Belief that people are inferior because of their race