European Colonization Flashcards

Front

How did the Inca use terrace farming and roads to unify their empire?

Back

Terraces allowed agriculture in mountainous terrain, supporting population growth. Roads connected the vast empire for communication, trade, and military control.

Front

Why did Spanish conquistadors succeed in conquering large empires like the Aztec and Inca?

Back

They used superior weapons, formed alliances with native rivals, and spread diseases like smallpox that weakened indigenous populations.

Front

What was the role of Catholic missionaries in consolidating Spanish imperial control?

Back

Missionaries converted indigenous peoples to Christianity, promoted Spanish language and customs, and supported colonial rule by justifying it through religion.

Front

How did the encomienda system support Spanish empire-building in the Americas?

Back

It gave settlers control over indigenous labor and land, extracting wealth through mining and agriculture while reinforcing Spanish dominance.

Front

What strategy did Queen Nzinga use to maintain power against the Portuguese?

Back

She negotiated treaties, formed alliances with other African powers, and moved her kingdom inland to escape Portuguese military pressure.

Front

How did Metacom (King Philip) resist British colonization in New England?

Back

He organized a multi-tribal alliance and led King Philip’s War (1675–1676), attacking English settlements to defend Wampanoag territory.

Front

How did enslaved Africans resist slavery in the Americas, both directly and indirectly?

Back

Through revolts, escapes (e.g., maroon communities), work slowdowns, sabotage, preserving African cultures, and secret religious practices.

Front

What was the significance of Palmares in Brazil for Afro-Brazilian resistance?

Back

Palmares was a maroon society of escaped enslaved Africans that lasted nearly a century and symbolized successful long-term resistance.

Front

What does a casta painting tell us about Spanish views of race?

Back

They show that Spanish society was obsessed with racial purity and used ancestry to define legal status, occupation, and honor.

Front

Why was it important for José de Alfaro’s wife to be identified as a “castiza” in the court case?

Back

Being labeled “castiza” (3/4 Spanish) gave her more legal and social status than someone labeled Black or Indigenous, affecting her honor.