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What were the primary causes of European exploration during the Age of Exploration?
The primary causes included the desire for new trade routes (to Asia for spices and luxury goods), the fall of Constantinople in 1453 which restricted access to traditional trade routes, and the advancements in navigation technology such as caravels and carracks. The Portuguese began exploring the West Coast of Africa in the early 1400s and, by 1450, had established trade with many regions. Additionally, religious motivation ('God', 'Gold', and 'Glory') played a significant role, as European nations sought to spread Catholicism, accumulate wealth through trade, and enhance national prestige. Spain, following the Reconquista by Ferdinand and Isabella, aimed to compete with Portugal by sending explorers like Christopher Columbus to find new routes to Asia. The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, determining their spheres of influence.
Mercantilism
An economic policy that promotes trade balance, where a country exports more than it imports, aiming to accumulate wealth via gold and silver.
Treaty of Tordesillas
A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal dividing newly discovered lands; Spain received control over the Americas while Portugal received Africa and Asia.
Conquistadors
Spanish explorers and soldiers who conquered territories in the Americas, notably the Aztec and Inca Empires.
Indigenous Resistance
The actions taken by Native people against European colonizers, often including alliances, warfare, and other forms of rebellion.
Chattel Slavery
A system where slaves are treated as property, allowing for their sale and purchase; it became a defining system of labor in the Americas.
Joint Stock Companies
A business entity where different stocks can be bought and owned by shareholders, often used to fund explorations and colonization.
Columbian Exchange
The widespread transfer of animals, plants, culture, human populations, technology, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World after Columbus's voyages.
Spanish Armada
A large fleet sent by Spain in 1588 to invade England, which ultimately failed.
Atlantic Slave Trade
The transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas, which became a major aspect of the Atlantic trade networks from the 16th to 19th centuries.
Mita System
An Incan labor system that the Spanish adapted for forced labor demands, requiring Indigenous workers to perform labor for short periods.
Fernando Magellan
A Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to successfully circumnavigate the globe.
East India Companies
British and Dutch companies established to manage trade in Asia, playing a significant role in colonization.
God, Gold, Glory
The three primary motives for European exploration and colonization during the Age of Exploration; religion, wealth, and national pride.
Imperialism
A policy where a country extends its power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means.
Fur Trade
The industry that involves the hunting and trading of animals for their furs; significant in French colonization efforts in North America.
What is the Columbian Exchange?
The Columbian Exchange refers to the extensive exchange of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World after Columbus's voyages.
What crops were introduced to the Old World from the Americas?
Important crops included potatoes, tomatoes, maize (corn), and cocoa.
What animals were brought to the Americas from the Old World?
Notable animals included horses, cattle, pigs, and sheep.
How did the Columbian Exchange affect global population?
The exchange led to significant population growth in Europe due to the introduction of new staple crops that enhanced nutrition.
What diseases were exchanged during the Columbian Exchange?
Diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza were brought by Europeans, devastating Indigenous populations in the Americas.
What impact did the horse have on Native American cultures?
Horses transformed Native American societies, enhancing their mobility for hunting, trade, and warfare.
What was the role of sugar in the Columbian Exchange?
Sugar became a highly sought-after commodity, leading to the establishment of plantations in the Americas and increased slave labor.
How did the Columbian Exchange affect African populations?
The demand for labor in the Americas led to the forced transportation of millions of Africans through the Atlantic Slave Trade.
What technological advancements were exchanged?
The Old World introduced iron tools, firearms, and other technologies to the Americas.
What role did Christianity play in the Columbian Exchange?
Christianity was spread by European colonizers as they sought to convert Indigenous peoples.
How did the Columbian Exchange influence agriculture in Europe?
The introduction of new crops improved diets and agricultural practices, leading to increased food security.
What is the significance of maize in the Columbian Exchange?
Maize became a staple food in many parts of the world, significantly contributing to food supplies.
What were the economic impacts of the Columbian Exchange?
The Columbian Exchange led to increased trade, new agricultural practices, and the growth of mercantilism.
What was the impact of coffee on global culture?
Coffee became a popular beverage in Europe, leading to the establishment of coffee houses and social hubs.
How did the Columbian Exchange facilitate cultural exchanges?
It led to the blending of cultures, ideas, and practices between Indigenous peoples and European settlers.
What is the impact of the potato on European society?
The potato became a staple food source, helping to sustain growing populations and influencing culinary practices.
What were some consequences of disease transmission during the Columbian Exchange?
The spread of diseases led to dramatic population declines among Indigenous peoples, affecting their societal structures.
How did the Columbian Exchange contribute to globalization?
The exchange fostered connections between continents, paving the way for global trade networks and cultural exchange.
What role did tobacco play in the Columbian Exchange?
Tobacco became a significant cash crop and export, particularly to Europe, impacting health and culture.
What was introduced to the Americas that changed local diets?
Wheat, rice, and various fruits were introduced, diversifying Indigenous diets.
How did the Columbian Exchange affect the environment?
It led to ecological changes, such as the introduction of non-native species that disrupted local ecosystems.
What was one major social impact of the Columbian Exchange?
It altered social hierarchies and labor systems, notably through the establishment of slavery.
What was the impact of the Columbian Exchange on Indigenous peoples?
It often resulted in cultural disruptions, land displacement, and significant population decline due to disease.
How did climate change affect the Columbian Exchange?
Shifts in climate impacted agricultural production and trade routes, further influencing exchange patterns.
What legacy did the Columbian Exchange leave for future generations?
The exchange created a legacy of interconnectedness, diversity, and complex cultural relations that shape today's world.
What is coerced labor?
A type of labor where individuals are forced to work against their will, often through threats or violence.
What are some historical examples of coerced labor?
Includes slavery, indentured servitude, and convict labor.
What is chattel slavery?
A system where individuals are treated as personal property and forced to work.
What was the impact of slavery on African populations?
Significant depopulation, disruption of societies, and long-term economic impacts.
What was the Atlantic Slave Trade?
The forced transport of enslaved Africans to the Americas for labor.
What is indentured servitude?
A labor system where individuals work for a fixed period in exchange for passage and future benefits.
What role did sugar plantations play in coerced labor?
They relied heavily on enslaved labor for production, especially in the Caribbean.
What is the Mita system?
An Incan labor system adapted by the Spanish for forced labor, requiring Indigenous workers to perform tasks.
What are plantations?
Large farms that produce cash crops, often requiring a large labor force, usually through coerced labor.
What was the role of joint-stock companies in coerced labor?
They financed colonization efforts, often using coerced labor to maximize profits.
How did the encomienda system operate?
Spanish landowners were granted the right to demand labor from Indigenous peoples.
What is wage slavery?
A situation where individuals must work for very low wages, rendering them effectively enslaved.
What was the significance of the Haitian Revolution?
It was a successful slave revolt that led to the first independent black republic and abolished slavery in Haiti.
What techniques were used to control coerced laborers?
Methods included punishment, surveillance, and manipulation of social and economic systems.
How did coerced labor impact colonial economies?
It significantly increased profits and economic growth at the expense of human rights.
What was the role of race in coerced labor systems?
Racial hierarchies were often constructed to justify and sustain systems of coerced labor.
What is the difference between forced labor and voluntary labor?
Forced labor is involuntary and often exploitative, while voluntary labor is performed willingly.
What were the conditions of coerced labor camps?
Often brutal, overcrowded, and unhygienic, leading to high mortality rates.
How did coerced labor contribute to social inequality?
It entrenched class distinctions, providing wealth to a few while oppressing many.
What is the International Labour Organization (ILO)?
A UN agency that sets international labor standards, including measures against forced labor.
What legal frameworks exist to combat coerced labor?
Laws against human trafficking, slavery, and labor exploitation, enforced by various governments.
What is the significance of the 13th Amendment in the United States?
It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.
How does coerced labor manifest in modern times?
It continues through practices like human trafficking, bonded labor, and sweatshops.
What is forced child labor?
The recruitment and use of children in work that deprives them of their childhood and education.
What impact did the abolition of slavery have on coerced labor practices?
Abolition led to new forms of labor exploitation, such as sharecropping and peonage.
How do NGOs combat coercive labor practices?
By raising awareness, advocating for policy changes, and providing support to victims.
What economic factors contribute to coerced labor?
Poverty, lack of education, and limited job opportunities often perpetuate coerced labor systems.
What is a joint-stock company?
A business entity where different stocks can be bought and owned by shareholders.
How do joint-stock companies raise capital?
By selling shares of stock to investors.
What was the primary purpose of joint-stock companies during the Age of Exploration?
To fund explorations and colonization efforts.
Can shareholders in a joint-stock company lose more than their initial investment?
No, shareholders are only liable for the amount they invested.
What was the first successful joint-stock company?
The English East India Company, established in 1600.
How did joint-stock companies influence colonial expansion?
They allowed for pooling of resources, sharing of risks, and supported large-scale ventures.
What role did joint-stock companies play in trade?
They facilitated international trade by establishing routes and monopolies.
What major risk does a shareholder take in a joint-stock company?
The risk of losing their investment if the company fails.
What is the difference between a joint-stock company and a sole proprietorship?
A joint-stock company has multiple owners (shareholders), while a sole proprietorship has one owner.
How are profits distributed in a joint-stock company?
Profits are shared among shareholders in proportion to their ownership of shares.
What was a significant impact of joint-stock companies on the British economy?
They contributed to the growth of British trade and colonial power.
What was the significance of the Virginia Company?
It was a joint-stock company that established the first permanent English settlement in America (Jamestown).
How did joint-stock companies affect European competition?
They intensified competition among European nations for trade, colonies, and resources.
What was the role of the Dutch East India Company?
It was a powerful joint-stock company that controlled trade in Asia for the Netherlands.
How did joint-stock companies contribute to the development of capitalism?
They promoted investment and entrepreneurship, driving economic growth.
What was an important feature of joint-stock companies in the 17th century?
Limited liability for shareholders.
How did joint-stock companies handle risks?
They spread risks among many investors, reducing individual financial losses.
What financial instrument is closely associated with joint-stock companies?
Shares of stock.
What was the impact of joint-stock companies on indigenous populations?
They often led to exploitation and colonization of indigenous lands.
What were the 'reserves' in the context of joint-stock companies?
Funds set aside for expansion, contingencies, or specific projects.
What did chartered joint-stock companies receive from governments?
Monopolies on trade in certain regions or resources.
What is the significance of the South Sea Company?
It was a notorious joint-stock company that collapsed in a financial crisis in the 1720s.
How did joint-stock companies foster innovation?
They provided funds for new technologies and ways to improve trade.
Can a joint-stock company operate independently of its shareholders?
Yes, it operates as an entity separate from its owners.
What trend emerged in the 19th century regarding joint-stock companies?
The rise of limited liability corporations became more common.
Why were joint-stock companies instrumental in the Atlantic Slave Trade?
They organized and financed the transportation and trade of enslaved people.
What is an example of a modern joint-stock company?
Many corporations today, such as Apple and Microsoft, operate as joint-stock companies.
What was the Dutch East India Company (VOC)?
A trading company established in 1602 to manage Dutch trade in Asia.
When was the Dutch East India Company founded?
It was founded in 1602.
What were the main objectives of the Dutch East India Company?
To monopolize trade in the East Indies and secure profitable trade routes.
What was the significance of the VOC's charter?
It granted the VOC special privileges, including the right to wage war and negotiate treaties.
How did the VOC finance its operations?
Through the sale of shares to investors, allowing for pooled resources.
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