colombian exchange
Age of Exploration
A period from the late 15th century to the early 17th century characterized by European global exploration and expansion.
Mercantilism
An economic theory that emphasizes the importance of accumulating wealth through trade and the establishment of colonies.
Treaty of Tordesillas
A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two powers.
Christopher Columbus
An Italian explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for the widespread European exploration of the Americas.
Ferdinand Magellan
A Portuguese explorer known for leading the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe (1519-1522).
Vasco da Gama
A Portuguese explorer who was the first to reach India by sea, linking Europe and Asia via the ocean.
Conquistadors
Spanish explorers and soldiers who conquered territories in the Americas, motivated by "God, Glory, and Gold."
Aztec Empire
A Mesoamerican civilization that was conquered by Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century.
Inca Empire
A large empire in South America that was conquered by Francisco Pizarro in the 1530s.
Encomienda System
A labor system in Spanish America that granted colonists the right to demand tribute and forced labor from indigenous people.
Triangular Trade
A transatlantic trading network that involved the exchange of goods and enslaved people between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Middle Passage
The sea journey undertaken by slave ships from West Africa to the West Indies, notorious for its brutal conditions.
Columbian Exchange
The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.
Prince Henry the Navigator
A Portuguese royal who significantly advanced maritime exploration in the 15th century.
Spice Trade
The trade of spices, which became a major driver of European exploration and colonization in Asia.
Dutch East India Company
A powerful trading company established by the Dutch in the early 17th century to control trade in Asia.
British East India Company
A joint-stock company that played a significant role in the expansion of British trade and influence in India.
Jesuits
A religious order of the Catholic Church known for their missionary work and educational efforts in Asia and the Americas.
Smallpox
A contagious disease that devastated indigenous populations in the Americas after European contact.