Atlantic Exploration and Colonial History Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering European exploration, religious upheavals, and Atlantic world colonization based on the provided notes.

Spanish Mercantilism

Spain's version of colonial mercantilism.

Commodification

The process of turning something that had no commercial value into a commodity.

Columbian Exchange

A massive transfer of plants, animals, food, and deadly diseases between the Old World and the New World.

Smallpox Impact on Native Americans

Severe impact caused by biological isolation combined with the compounding trauma of colonial warfare.

French Colonization Goals

Economic profit and finding water passages to Asia.

Encomiendas

Grants obtained by Spaniards who secured a direct decree from the Spanish crown.

Black Legend

A heavy wave of anti-Spanish propaganda started by Spain's European rivals.

Mercantilism

The dominant economic system in Europe.

Colonial Mercantilism

The specific application of mercantilist economic theory to the relationship between a colonizing nation and its colonies.

Portugal

The country that initiated the era of Atlantic exploration.

Sugar

The food item that fueled the Atlantic Slave Trade.

Spain

The country that established the first colonies in the Americas.

The Three G's

Gold, God, and Glory; the three reasons that the Spanish explored the New World.

San Salvador

The place where Christopher Columbus first landed.

Reconquista

Military campaigns in which Christian kingdoms fought to recapture the Iberian peninsula.

Probanzas de Méritos

Reports written by Spanish explorers designed specifically to win royal favors.

95 Theses

The document mailed to a church door by Martin Luther detailing complaints against Catholic Church practices.

Indulgences

Certificates sold by the Catholic Church that promised to shorten a person's time in purgatory.

Protestant Reformation

A major religious movement that began in Germany.

Calvinism

A major branch of Protestantism aimed at simplifying Christianity.

Anglican Church

The church created by King Henry VIII.

Pilgrims

A religious group of separatists who wanted to completely leave the Church of England and landed at the tip of Cape Cod in 1620.

Puritans

A group of 16th and 17th century English Protestants who believed the Church of England was too similar to the Catholic Church.

Privateers

State-sponsored private sailors or ships.

Joint-Stock Companies

Businesses where private investors pooled their money together to fund a voyage or colony.

Jamestown

The first permanent settlement of the English, founded in the year 1607 for money.

English Colonization Goals

Economic profit and geopolitical power.

Dutch Colonization Goals

Trade, commerce, and economic profit.