Period 1 Terms 1491 - 1607

Conquistador

Spanish explorer and conqueror known for their expeditions in the Americas during the Age of Exploration, often associated with the conquest of indigenous populations.

Encomienda System

Spanish land grants giving colonists the right to demand labor and tribute from indigenous people.

Hernan Cortez

Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Aztecs

Indigenous people who ruled a large empire in present-day Mexico, known for their advanced society and rich culture.

Incas

Indigenous people who built a vast empire in South America, primarily along the Andes Mountains, noted for their architectural achievements and complex society.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement made in 1494 between Spain and Portugal, which divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between them along a meridian to avoid conflicts over territory.

Jacques Cartier

French explorer credited with claiming Canada for France and exploring the St. Lawrence River.

Samuel Champlain

French explorer known as the "Father of New France" for establishing Quebec and mapping much of northeastern North America.

Henry Hudson

English explorer known for his attempts to find a northwest passage to Asia and for his exploration of the Hudson River and Hudson Bay.

Northwest Passage

A sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, sought by explorers as a faster way to access Asia.

Bartolome de Las Casas

Spanish priest and missionary who advocated for the rights of Indigenous people and opposed their mistreatment by colonizers.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread exchange of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World following Christopher Columbus's voyages.

Mestizos

Individuals of mixed European and Indigenous descent in colonial Latin America, often forming a distinct cultural and social group.

Black Legend

A phenomenon that demonized Spanish colonizers for their brutal treatment of Indigenous peoples, portraying them as particularly cruel compared to other European colonizers.

Maize

A staple crop of Indigenous peoples in the Americas, also known as corn, that became a vital food source after its introduction to Europe.

Feudalism

A social and economic system in medieval Europe where land was held by lords and worked by vassals in exchange for protection and service.

Chattel Slavery

A system of slavery where individuals are treated as personal property to be bought, sold, and owned permanently, often characterized by severe dehumanization and exploitation.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the role of state power in managing trade and accumulating wealth through a favorable balance of exports over imports.

Cash Crop

A crop produced for commercial value rather than for use by the grower, often including tobacco, cotton, and sugar.

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transatlantic trading system that involved the forced transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas, where they were sold for labor on plantations and in other industries.

Middle Passage

The brutal sea journey taken by enslaved Africans from West Africa to the Americas, characterized by overcrowding, disease, and high mortality rates.

Joint Stock Company

A business entity formed by a group of investors who pool their capital for commercial enterprise, sharing profits and risks.

Capitalism

An economic system where private individuals or businesses own capital goods and production means, operating for profit in a competitive market.

Triangular Trade

A system of transatlantic trade involving three main regions: Europe, Africa, and the Americas, where goods, enslaved people, and raw materials were exchanged.