Key Concepts from the Spanish Colonization Lecture

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on the Spanish colonization of the New World, including the motives for exploration, significant events, and the impact on Native populations.

What was the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)?

A treaty in which Pope Alexander VI divided the non-Christian Western world between Spain and Portugal.

What were the three motives for Spanish exploration?

The three G's: God (spread Catholicism), Glory (political power), and Gold (economic wealth).

Who commissioned Columbus on his voyage in 1492?

Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain.

What was the role of conquistadores in the New World?

They were soldiers and explorers who conquered much of North America for Spain, seeking to exploit land and resources.

What system did conquistadores use to control and exploit Native Americans?

The encomienda system.

What did Bartolome de Las Casas believe about the treatment of Native Americans?

He believed they were free men deserving of the same treatment as Spaniards.

What was the first permanent Spanish settlement in the New World?

St. Augustine, founded in 1565.

What was the impact of the encomienda system on Native American populations?

It led to the decimation of the Indian population.

Which group had a higher social position, Mestizos or Zambos?

Mestizos (mixed European and Native American ancestry) had a higher social position than Zambos (mixed Native American and African ancestry).