chapter 5 vocab + SAQs

4th edition 25-26

hernan cortes

who: hernan cortes

what: led the Spanish assault on the Aztec Empire

when: early 16th century ( 1519-1540 CE)

where: Central Mexico/Aztec Empire

Hernan cortes (historical significance)

Cortés’ conquest of the Aztecs led to Spanish colonization in Mexico, transforming the region’s culture and demographics during the 16th century. In the final attack, Cortés' forces contained fewer than 1000 Spaniards and many Tlaxcalans, former subjects of the Aztecs. After their defeat, thousands of Aztecs joined Cortés as he carved out a Spanish Meso-American empire way larger than the Aztec empire.

The Great Dying

Who: Americans and indigenous

What: population collapse caused by diseases 

When: early 17th century

Where: the americas

The Great Dying (historical significance)

The Great Dying is significant to world history because it killed the majority of the populations due to diseases during the early 17th century. Meso-american and Andean’s long isolation from afro-eurasian world and lack of domesticated animals meant absence of immunities to old world diseases. Smallpox, measles, influenza, malaria, and later on yellow fever caused native Americans’ population to decrease by almost 90 percent.

Little Ice Age

Who: Americans, farmers

What: a period of time of unusually cool temperatures

When: 13th century - 19th century

Where: northern hemisphere and the americas

Little Ice Age (historical significance)

The Little ice age is significant to world history because the abrupt temperature change caused agricultural struggles globally. This time period of unusual weather led to shorter growing seasons, which affected food production internationally and also diminishing the population due to famines. However, this opened up space for immigrants and enslaved Africans for labor.

columbian exchange

Who:europeans, africans, indigenous americans 

What: exchange of slaves and cash crops and diseases

When: 15th and 16th century

Where: atlantic ocean, europe, africa and americas 

Columbian exchange (historical significance)

The Columbian exchange is significant to world history because it connected the Old and New Worlds, transforming global economies and populations.  It introduced new foods, such as potatoes and corn, to Europe and brought deadly diseases, such as smallpox, to the Americas. Although the Columbian exchange brought in a network of communication, trade, diseases, and migration, the long-term aftermath was an unequal distribution of wealth across the Atlantic, with extremely wealthy Europeans and disruption in the Americas and africas.

Mercantilism

Who: european rulers 

What: economic system emphasizing control of trade and wealth

When: 16th-18th century 

Where: western europe

Mercantilism (historical significance)

Mercantilism is significant to world history because it guided European empires throughout the 17th century, driving global trade and colonization. Nations like Spain and England used it to justify monopolies and to extract resources from colonies for profit. Mercantilism

Peninsulares/Creoles

Who: spanish born settlers(peninsulares) and american born spanish(creoles)

What: social hierarchy ranking colonial elites

When: 16th-18th century

Where: spanish empire - spain and peru

Peninsulares/Creoles (historical significance)

Peninsulares/creoles were significant to world history because the social division between the Spanish sparked independence movements in the Americas. Peninsulares held top government positions, while Creoles built local wealth and later led independence movements.

Mestizos

Who: people mixed with indigenous and european blood

What: mixed-heritage social class 

When: 16th century

Where: new spain, peru

Mestizos (historical significance)

The Mestizos are important to World History because it was where mixed mixed-race, population, initially the product of unions between Spanish men and indigenous women, happened. Mestizos were largely Hispanic in culture, but Spaniards looked down on them during much of the colonial era. Regarding them as illegitimate, for many were not born in proper marriages. Despite this attitude, their growing numbers and the economic usefulness of their men as artisans and clerks led to their recognition as a distinct social group.

Settler Colonies

Who: European colonists, mainly British, French, and Dutch. 

What: Permanent European settlements overseas. 

When: 17th–18th centuries.

Where: In British North America and Australia.

Settler Colonies (historical significance)

Settler Colonies are significant to world history because when Europeans migrated permanently during the 1600s and 1700s, they displaced Indigenous peoples and created societies that evolved into modern nations. In North America, they developed self-governing institutions, and in places like South Africa, they displaced Indigenous peoples.

Russian Empire

Who: Russian tsars and frontiersmen.

 What: Expanding Eurasian empire. 

When: 1500s–1800s. 

Where: From Moscow across Siberia to the Pacific Ocean.

Russian Empire (historical significance)

The Russian Empire is significant to world history because when it expanded eastward in the 16th to 18th centuries, it connected Europe and Asia under one rule and created one of the largest empires in history. They expanded into Siberia to gain control of valuable fur such as sable and resources and relied on Cossacks to enforce imperial authority over conquered peoples. Its growth connected Europe and Asia economically and culturally, laying the foundation for modern Russian statehood.

Yasak

Who: Indigenous Siberian peoples and Russian officials.

What: Tribute, often paid in furs (or cash, services and goods to the russian empire)

When: 17th–18th centuries.

Where: In Siberia, under Russian imperial control.

Yasak (historical signifiance)

Yasak is significant to world history because when Russia demanded fur tributes in the 1600s, it showed how economic exploitation fueled imperial expansion across Siberia. In Siberia, indigenous peoples paid Yasak mostly with furs, especially sable furs, which helped the Russian Empire gain wealth. This tribute system allowed Russia to consolidate control over Siberian territories. It also ensured a stable flow of tribute from conquered lands, supporting Russia’s expansion and control over Eurasian territories.

Qing Expansion

Who: Qing Dynasty rulers and their armies

What: Military campaigns and conquests that expanded China’s territory into Central and Inner Asia. 

When: 17th-18th century

Where: China and surrounding Central and Inner Asian regions.

Qing Expansion (historical significance)

The Qing Expansion is important to World History because the Qing Dynasty conquered Central and Inner Asia using their military power.  They worked with local notables, such as Mongol aristocrats, Muslim officials, and Buddhist leaders, to govern the region. This expansion helped the Qing Dynasty grow stronger, integrate diverse cultures, and adopt new innovations, shaping the empire’s political and cultural landscape. 

Mughal Empire

Who: Indian rulers and people

What: A powerful and wealthy empire in India known for military conquests, administration, art, and architecture.

When: 16th-19th century

Where: India

Mughal Empire (historical significance)

The Mughal Empire is important to World History because it was descended from Chinggis Khan and Timur, bringing a mix of Islamic and Hindu cultures into governance. Its brutal conquests in the 16th century created a rare period of political unity in India, while religious diversity influenced its administration. The empire’s military and bureaucratic success allowed it to expand, flourish, and leave lasting cultural and architectural legacies.

Akbar

Who: Third ruler of the Mughal Empire. 

What: Promoted religious tolerance and efficient governance. 

When: Reigned 1556–1605.

Where: From Fatehpur Sikri over northern India.

Akbar (historical significance)

Akbar is important to World History because he strengthened and expanded the Mughal Empire, creating one of the most powerful and centralized states in India. He promoted religious tolerance, abolished the jizya tax on non-Muslims, and encouraged cultural and artistic development, which helped integrate diverse communities and set a model for governance that influenced South Asia for centuries.

Aurangzeb

Who: Mughal Emperor

What: Expanded the Mughal empire to its largest territorial extent

When: 17th-18th century

Where:India

Aurangzeb (historical significance)

Aurangzeb is important to World History because he expanded the Mughal Empire to its greatest size, but his strict enforcement of Islamic law and bringing back the tax on non-Muslims caused conflicts within the empire. These problems weakened the empire and set the stage for its decline in the 18th century.

devshirme

Who: Ottoman officials and Christian boys from the Balkans. 

What: Recruitment and conversion system for state service. 

When: 14th–17th centuries.

Where: In Balkan provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

devshirme (historical significance)

The Devshirme system is important to World History because it was a policy where the Ottoman Empire collected Christian boys from conquered territories, converted them to Islam, and trained them for service in the military or government. This created a loyal, elite administrative and military class and integrated diverse populations into Ottoman governance, helping the empire expand and maintain control.