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Magnetic compass

Chinese invention from 206 BCE that allowed sailors to steer a ship in the right direction using a magnetized needle aligned with magnetic north.

Astrolabe

A device invented in 225 BCE used by sailors to determine their position north or south of the equator.

Lateen sails

A 2nd century Arab invention of a triangular ship sail allowing travel in different directions by catching wind on either side.

Stern rudder

1st century Chinese invention of a vertical blade located at the stern of a ship, providing greater control for steering.

Astronomical Charts

Maps of stars and galaxies that mariners used to guide ships’ direction, dating back to ancient Egypt.

Caravel

15th century Portuguese invention of a small, three-masted sailing ship for crossing oceans.

Carrack

A large, multi-decked sailing ship prominent in 14th to 17th century European naval fleets for long voyages.

Fluyt

Late 16th century Dutch cargo vessel designed for maximum cargo capacity and efficiency in trade.

Trading-post empire

An empire that maintains dominance over trade routes through small trading outposts rather than large territories.

Northwest Passage

The sought-after northern maritime route to Asia by England, France, and the Netherlands, which remained unsuccessful.

Eastern Hemisphere

The half of the earth east of the prime meridian, encompassing Afro-Eurasia.

Western Hemisphere

The half of the earth west of the prime meridian, which includes the Americas.

Maritime Empire

Empires that span across oceans, also referred to as colonial empires.

Isolationist

A policy of avoiding involvement in the affairs or conflicts of other countries.

Coerced labor

Labor obtained through force or coercion.

Chattel slavery

Slavery system where individuals are considered property with their children inheriting that status.

Indentured servitude

Workers bound by a voluntary agreement to work for a specified number of years in exchange for passage to another destination.

Encomienda system

A feudal system in the Americas where conquistadors managed land and demanded labor from native peoples.

Hacienda system

System that replaced the Encomienda system, involving large agricultural estates worked by coerced native populations.

Mercantilism

An economic policy promoting maximization of exports and controlled trade to ensure profits for colonizing countries.

Joint-stock company

A business entity owned by shareholders or investors, precursor to the modern stock market.

Transatlantic slave trade

The global trade of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas.

Religious syncretism

The combining of different religious beliefs and practices to form a new religion.

Maroon society

Communities established by formerly enslaved Africans seeking freedom, often in remote areas.

Casta System

A social class system developed by the Spanish in the Americas, classifying all races into fixed categories.