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What were the main characteristics of the Mississippian culture?
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Known for large earthen mounds, complex societies, and extensive trade networks, they occupied regions east of the Mississippi from AD 800 to 1500.
What role did the Catholic Church play in the unification of Europe before exploration began?
The Church served as a unifying cultural and religious institution after the fall of Rome, maintaining education and arts akin to European identity.
Describe the role and structure of the Spanish Encomienda system.
It granted land to settlers who were responsible for native labor and conversion efforts, facilitating control over land and resources.
Why were there diverse societies in the Americas before Europeans arrived?
Diverse societies developed due to varied climates, geography, and available resources, leading to diverse cultures and economies.
What was the nature of North American Indian societies' kinship bonds?
Kinship bonds were essential for social structure, determining roles, alliances, and inheritance, thus organizing societies into complex entities.
In what ways did the Crusades influence European exploration?
They increased European exposure to foreign goods and cultures, sparking a desire for exploration and new trade routes.
What was the significance of Christopher Columbus's voyages?
His voyages opened the Americas for European exploration and colonization, initiating widespread contact and exchange.
What major developments in Europe enabled exploration?
Technological advancements, rise of nation-states, and the influence of the Renaissance spurred exploration by funding expeditions and seeking new trade routes.
How did technological advancements in navigation aid the Age of Exploration?
The development of compasses, astrolabes, and caravels enabled longer and safer sea voyages, expanding horizons for explorers.
How did the Spanish conquer and colonize the Americas?
Through military conquest, alliances with local tribes, and the spread of diseases which decimated indigenous populations.
Explain the social hierarchy established in the Spanish Empire.
Peninsulares held top positions, Creoles were locally born but inferior, Mestizos had mixed ancestry, while Native Americans and African slaves were lowest.
What were the main causes of the collapse of the Maya civilization around AD 900?
Potential over-exploitation of resources, long-term drought, and sociopolitical factors led to a decline in their civilization.
How did Spanish colonization influence North American history?
It laid the foundation for European dominance, altered native cultures, and influenced the continent's linguistic, religious, and cultural landscape.
What were the effects of the Colombian Exchange on involved societies?
The exchange brought new crops and animals to both worlds, but also devastating diseases to Native populations, shifting dynamics and economies.
How did the Protestant Reformation indirectly affect European exploration?
Divisions in Christianity spurred competition among nations for colonies both for profit and to spread their religious ideals.
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