Exploration and Colonization of the Americas

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the exploration and colonization of the Americas.

Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed by Portuguese explorers in the 1400’s, designed for exploring the West African coast and the Atlantic Ocean.

Sextant

A navigational instrument used to measure the height of stars above the horizon, facilitating the determination of longitude and latitude.

Compass

An instrument that points to magnetic north, aiding in navigation, which was introduced to Europe from China.

Conquistador

Spanish explorers and conquerors who sought to claim and conquer portions of the Americas for Spain.

Encomienda System

A labor system where Native Americans were forced to work the lands for Spanish landlords, often resulting in exploitation and enslavement.

Atlantic Slave Trade

The transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas, which became a significant part of the economic systems in the colonies.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that a country's power depended on its wealth, leading nations to export more goods than they imported.

Jamestown

The first permanent English settlement in America, founded in 1607, which struggled initially but later flourished due to tobacco cultivation.

Middle Passage

The leg of the triangular trade that brought enslaved Africans from their homeland directly to the Americas.

Taino People

The indigenous people of the Bahamas whom Columbus encountered, mistakenly referring to them as Indians.

Hernando Cortes

A conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521, leading to a significant decline in the Aztec population due to warfare and disease.