European Explorers and Labour Systems- Unit 4

Prince Henry The Navigator

A Portuguese royal prince, Portuguese Empire advancing maritime exploration and the development of the navigation school at Sagres, which significantly contributed to the Age of Discovery.

Bartolomeau Dias

A Portuguese explorer who was the first to sail around the southern tip of Africa, reaching the Cape of Good Hope, paving the way for future sea routes to India.

Christopher Columbus

An Italian explorer credited with discovering the Americas while seeking a westward route to Asia. His voyages opened the way for the widespread European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

John Cabot

An Italian explorer who sailed under the English flag, credited with the discovery of parts of North America, likely the coast of Newfoundland (which is Canada)

Vasco De Gama

A Portuguese explorer who sailed through the same route as Bartolomeau to reach India by sea, linking Europe and Asia via the ocean route and significantly contributing to the spice trade. (INDIAN OCEAN TRADE)

Amerigo Vespucci

Pedro Alvares Cabral

A Portuguese explorer who is credited with the discovery of Brazil and played a significant role in establishing Portuguese claims in South America.

Magellan

A Portuguese explorer known for leading the first expedition to successfully circumnavigate the globe(SAIL ALL AROUND THE WORLD), proving that the Earth is round and connected by oceans.

Hernando Cortes (Spanish Explorer)

A Spanish conquistador known for leading the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire and claimed Mexico for Spain.

Pizzaro (Spanish Explorer)

A Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Inca Empire and claimed Peru for Spain.

Jacques Cartier

A French explorer known for claiming Canada for France and mapping the St. Lawrence River during his voyages.

Vasquez De Coronado

A Spanish explorer who led an expedition through the southwestern United States in search of the Seven Cities of Gold, claiming vast territories for Spain.

Captain Cook

A British explorer and navigator known for his three voyages to the Pacific Ocean, mapping many areas including New Zealand and the eastern coastline of Australia.

Trading Post Empire

Empires like the Portuguese and Dutch that established trading posts in regions without asserting direct control over land.

Coerced Labor System

a system where people are forced to work against their will, often through threats, violence, or extreme debt, receiving little to no compensation for their labor (i.e. chattel slavery, serfdom)

Hacienda System

a large landed estate system prevalent in colonial Latin America, where vast agricultural properties relied heavily on the labor of indigenous populations and sometimes enslaved Africans

Mi’ta System

a labor tribute system used by the Inca Empire, where communities were required to provide a certain number of workers for public projects (agricultural production, mining, and construction); form of tax through labor contribution instead of currency

Serfdom

A peasant bound to the land and under the control of a landowner, often working in exchange for protection and a small plot to cultivate

Indentured Servitude

a migrant to British colonies in the Americas who paid for passage by agreeing to work for a set term ranging from four to seven years

Chattel Slavery

a system where individuals were considered property to be bought and sold and forced to work without freedom or compensation, often subjected to brutal treatment and dehumanization.

Encomienda

A labor system established by the Spanish in the Americas, forcing Native Americans to work on plantations in exchange for food and shelter, similar to feudalism.

Encomenderos

Spanish colonizers under the encomienda system