AP World Unit 4 Key Terms

1. Primogeniture Laws

Laws that dictated that the eldest son inherited all of his parents' estate.

2. Omani-European Rivalry

Competition between the Omani Empire and various European powers,

particularly the Portuguese, over control of trade routes and ports in the Indian Ocean.

3. Cartography

The science or practice of drawing maps.

4. Astronomical Chart

Maps of the stars and galaxies.

5. Maritime Empires

Empires based on sea travel and overseas colonies.

6. Mercantilism

An economic policy aimed at maximizing the exports and minimizing the imports for an

economy.

7. Trading Post Empire

An empire established through the control of trading posts rather than large

territories.

8. Manila

Capital of the Philippines. Became a crucial hub for Spanish trade between Asia and the Americas,

particularly for the galleon trade that connected Manila with Acapulco, Mexico.

9. Prince Henry the Navigator

A Portuguese prince and patron of explorers. Sponsored numerous

expeditions along the west coast of Africa, leading to significant advancements in navigation and the Portuguese

colonial empire.

10. Galleons

Large, multi-decked sailing ships used primarily by European states from the 16th to 18th centuries.

11. Christopher Columbus

An Italian explorer sponsored by Spain. His 1492 voyage led to the European

discovery of the Americas, initiating widespread exploration and colonization.

12. Bartholomew Diaz

A Portuguese explorer. First European to sail around the southern tip of Africa,

opening the way for a sea route to Asia.

13. Vasco Da Gama

A Portuguese explorer. First European to reach India by sea, establishing a direct

maritime route between Europe and Asia.

14. Ferdinand Magellan

A Portuguese explorer sailing for Spain. Led the first expedition to circumnavigate

the globe, proving that the Earth could be circumnavigated by sea.

15. Northwest Passage

A hypothesized sea route from the Atlantic to the Pacific through North America.

16. Jacques Cartier

A French explorer. Explored the St. Lawrence River and claimed parts of Canada for France.

17. Samuel de Champlain

A French explorer and cartographer. Founded Quebec City and mapped the

Great Lakes, laying the groundwork for French claims in North America.

18. John Cabot

An Italian navigator and explorer working for England. Explored the coast of North America,

claiming lands for England.

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19. Henry Hudson

An English navigator and explorer. Explored parts of the Arctic Ocean and northeastern

North America, with the Hudson River and Hudson Bay named after him.

20. Quebec

A city in present-day Canada, founded by Samuel de Champlain. Became the capital of New France

and a central hub for French colonial activities in North America.

21. New France

A French colony in North America. Included parts of modern-day Canada and the United States,

known for the fur trade and exploration.

22. Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in North America. Founded in Virginia in 1607, it became

the starting point for the expansion of British colonies in America.

23. New Amsterdam

A Dutch colonial settlement on the southern tip of Manhattan Island. Later became

New York City after being seized by the English, playing a key role in trade and colonial expansion.

24. Smallpox

A deadly disease caused by the variola virus. Brought to the Americas by Europeans, it devastated

indigenous populations who had no immunity.

25. Horse

Domesticated animal brought to the Americas by Europeans. Transformed the cultures of many Native

American groups, particularly in the Plains, by improving hunting and warfare.

26. Conquistadores

Spanish soldiers and explorers. Led the conquest of the Americas, overthrowing empires

like the Aztecs and Incas and establishing Spanish colonies.

27. Maize

Also known as corn, a staple crop domesticated by indigenous peoples of the Americas.

28. Cacao

Plant native to the Americas, used to produce chocolate. Became a highly valued commodity in Europe

after being introduced by Spanish colonists.

29. Okra

A plant brought to the Americas by enslaved Africans. Became an important ingredient in Southern U.S.

cuisine, especially in dishes like gumbo.

30. Rice

A staple crop originally from Asia. Cultivated in the Americas, particularly in the Southern U.S., often using

African agricultural knowledge and labor

31. Sugarcane

A crop originally from Southeast Asia, brought to the Americas by Europeans. Became a major

cash crop in the Caribbean and Brazil, driving the demand for enslaved labor.

32. Creole

A language and culture that developed in the Caribbean and the Americas, blending African, European,

and indigenous influences.

33. Gumbo

A stew or soup that originated in Louisiana with African, French, and Native American influences.

34. Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

35. Transatlantic Slave Trade

The transportation of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the

Americas. Fueled the economies of the Americas and had devastating effects on African societies36. Engenhos

Portuguese term for sugar mills and plantations in Brazil. Known for their brutal working

conditions and significant role in the transatlantic slave trade.

37. Cash Crop

Crops grown for sale rather than for subsistence. Included products like sugar, tobacco, and

cotton, which were central to the economies of European colonies.

38. African Diaspora

he spread of African peoples across the Atlantic via the slave trade. Led to significant

cultural, social, and demographic changes in the Americas.

39. Asante Empire

Located in present-day Ghana. Became a powerful West African state, growing wealthy

from gold and the slave trade.

40. Kingdom of the Kongo

Located in Central Africa. Had significant interactions with Portuguese traders

and missionaries, and was involved in the transatlantic slave trade.

41. Ming Dynasty

China, from 1368 to 1644. Known for its trade expansion, cultural achievements, and the

construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing.

42. Aztec Empire

Central Mexico. Known for its complex society, monumental architecture, and eventually

conquered by Spanish conquistadores led by Hernán Cortés.

43. Inca Empire

Andean region of South America. Known for its extensive road systems and sophisticated

agricultural practices, and was conquered by Francisco Pizarro.

44. New Spain

A Spanish colony that included much of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Established following the conquest of the Aztec Empire, with Mexico City as its capital.

45. Mexico City

Capital of New Spain, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán. Became the political

and cultural center of Spanish America.

46. Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador. Led the expedition that conquered the Inca Empire.

47. Atahualpa

The last Inca emperor. Captured and executed by Pizarro's forces, marking the end of the Inca

Empire.

48. Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement between Spain and Portugal in 1494. Divided newly discovered

lands outside Europe between the Portuguese and Spanish empires.

49. Hispaniola

The island in the Caribbean, now home to Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Site of the first

permanent European settlement in the Americas by Christopher Columbus.

50. Silver

A precious metal extensively mined in the Americas, particularly in Mexico and Peru. Fueled the global

economy in the 16th and 17th centuries and contributed to the wealth of the Spanish Empire.

51. Colonies

Lands settled and controlled by a foreign power. Played a crucial role in the mercantilist policies of

European powers.

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52. Indentured Servitude

A labor system where people worked for a specified period in exchange for

passage to the Americas. Provided labor for colonies, especially in North America.

53. Chattel Slavery

A system where individuals are treated as personal property to be bought and sold.