Early European Exploration and Colonization Vocabulary

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering major explorers, labor systems, treaties, and Indigenous concepts from early European exploration and colonization.

Conquistadores

generalized term for soldiers and explorers of Spanish and Portuguese empires. Colonized what became Latin America in the 16th through 18th centuries.

Encomienda

A legal system established by the Spanish crown. Conquistadores or other officials were given a set number of American Indians, from whom they would extract tribute while instructing in the Roman Catholic faith. In practice, it was a form of slavery. Contrast with; Repartomiento.

Repartimiento

Replaced the encomienda. American Indians, living in native villages, were legally free. This system legally rendered indigenous slavery nonexistent; natives were allowed land, received pay for labor, and could not be bought and sold. However, they were still abused by Spanish authorities and working conditions could still be brutal.

Juan de Oñate

a conquistador Born in new Spain (modern day Mexico) established the first permanent Colonial settlement in what is the modern day American Southwest. in famous for 1599 acoma massacre, which saw over 800 American Indians killed. Later recalled to Spain and convicted for cruelty towards natives and colonist alike.

Sir Walter Raleigh

English poly math. One of the most important figures of the Elizabethan era granted permission by Queen Elizabeth Elizabeth the first to explore and colonize the New World in exchange for 1/5 of all the gold and silver this venture obtained. Founded Roanoke.

Roanoke

nicknamed “ The Lost colony”. First attempted English colony in the new world. Founded in 1585 by Sir Walter relay on an island of the modern day North Carolina. By 1590 it’s inhabitants had vanished for reasons that still remain unknown.

Virginia Company

M The collective name for two joint stock companies (one of London, the other of Plymouth) that had identical chargers, but different (if overlapping) territorial claims. Charted in 1606 by King James the first in order to settle the North American eastern coastline.

Columbian Exchange

The transmission and interchange of plants, animals, diseases, cultures, human population (including slaves), and technologies between the New World and the old world. Greatly benefited Europe and Asia, while simultaneously bringing catastrophe to American Indian populations and cultures.

Jacques Cartier

French explorer. Cultivated a fur trade with American Indians. Dubbed the Gulf of St. Lawrence and its surroundings as the country of Canadas A term Derived from the St. Lawrence, Iroquoian word for village/settlement

Samuel de Champlain

French explorer known as the father of new France Founded Quebec In 1608. Made the first accurate maps of what is modern day eastern Canada

Treaty of Tordesillas

sign between Spain and Portugal in 1490, it decided how Christopher Columbus is discoveries of the New World would be divided. It established The zone of Portuguese influence in what would become Brazil

Spanish Requirement of 1513

Spain asserted its divine right to conquer the New World, stating that its main concern was to rescue the natives from hedonism

Vasco Núñez de Balboa

Spanish explorer and conquistador. In 1513 he led the first Overland expedition by Europeans to reach the Pacific, specifically crossing the isthmus of Panama.

Juan Ponce de León

Spanish explorer and conquistador led the first European expedition to Florida in 1513 an area which he named commonly said to have been hunting for the fountain of youth, although that motivation is considered a myth

Ferdinand Magellan

Portuguese explorer from 1519 to 1522, he led a Spanish expedition that was the first to circumnavigate the Earth. He died in battle in the Philippines in 1521 and command was transferred to Juan Sebastian ElCano

Hernán Cortés

A Spanish conquistador whose expedition conquered the Aztec empire, and brought large swaths of modern day Mexico under Spanish authority. Famous for intentionally, destroying his own ships in order to force his men not to abandon their campaign.

Three Sisters

Traditional Native American companion planting of corn, beans, and squash, each crop supporting the growth of the others.

Great League of Peace

Also called the haudenosunee. A political confederation of five (later six) Iroquois tribes, which sought to coordinate collective action. Eacg Try maintain its own political system and religious beliefs. Believe to Have formed around 1450

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer and colonizer. While attempting to prove a Westword sea route for east Asian trade existed, he stumbled across the Bahamas in October 14 92 the first European to visit islands of Hispaniola and Cuba

Amerigo Vespucci

Italian explorer and cartographer his 1499 to 1502 trip along the South American coast determined that the New World was a distinct continent from Asia

Las casas

Priest who opposed the harsh treatment of natives and challenged the encomienda, he helped outlaw it