European Colonization in the Americas (Lecture Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from notes on early European colonization of Latin America.

Hispaniola

Caribbean island where Columbus arrived in 1492, marking the first European foothold in the Americas.

Pau-brasil (Brazil wood)

Brazil wood along the coast of Brazil that yielded a red dye; highly valued in Europe as a sign of wealth.

Isthmus of Panama

Narrow land bridge reached by Balboa in 1513, providing access to the Pacific Ocean.

Yucatán

Region in Mexico where Hernán Cortés landed and began his conquest in 1524.

Jamestown

First permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, established in 1607.

Portuguese sea route to India

Portugal led the way to a sea route to India, shaping early European exploration before Columbus.

Order of colonization ( Iberian vs. English/French)

Spanish and Portuguese paving the way in early colonization; English and French followed, aiming to replicate Iberian success.

Gold and silver in Mexico

Wealth (gold and silver) in Mexico that attracted English and French interest in colonization during 1500–1600.

Indigenous societies

Native peoples encountered by Europeans during exploration and colonization.

Bicultural societies

Communities formed by blending indigenous and European cultures through alliances against common enemies.