Key Concepts in Colonial and Slavery History

Chattel Slavery

A form of slavery where individuals are treated as personal property to be bought and sold.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Criollos

People of Spanish descent born in the Americas, often holding a higher social status than indigenous peoples but lower than Peninsulares.

Encomienda

A system where Spanish colonists were granted the right to extract labor and tribute from indigenous peoples in exchange for protection and Christianization.

Galleons

Large sailing ships used by Spain for trade, particularly in the transatlantic trade routes during the colonial period.

Hacienda

A large estate or plantation in Spanish-speaking countries, often focused on agriculture and livestock.

Indentured Servitude

A labor system where individuals worked for a fixed term in exchange for passage to a new country, room, and board.

Joint Stock Company

A business entity where different stocks can be bought and owned by shareholders, often used for colonial ventures.

Limited Liability

A legal structure that protects investors from being personally liable for the debts of a company beyond their investment.

Maroons

Communities of escaped slaves in the Americas who formed their own societies, often in remote areas.

Mercantilism

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

Mestizos

Individuals of mixed European and indigenous ancestry, often forming a significant part of the population in Latin America.

Peninsulares

Spanish-born individuals who held the highest social status in colonial Latin America, often in government or church positions.

Plantation

A large-scale farm that specializes in the production of a single crop, often relying on slave labor.

Primogeniture Laws

Laws that dictate that the firstborn child inherits the entire estate, often leading to younger siblings seeking fortunes elsewhere.

Santería

A syncretic religion that blends African traditions with Catholicism, originating from the Yoruba people.

The Middle Passage

The sea route used to transport enslaved Africans to the Americas, characterized by inhumane conditions.

Viceroy

A royal official who runs a country or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch.

Vodun

A religion practiced chiefly in Haiti, combining elements of African traditions and Catholicism, often associated with spirit worship.