Unit 4: Exploration and Colonization

Christopher Columbus

An Italian explorer known for his 1492 voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, which led to the European awareness of the American continents. Columbus's expeditions were sponsored by Spain and resulted in the colonization of the Americas.

Henry the Navigator

A Portuguese prince who played a pivotal role in the early days of the Portuguese Empire and is known for his contributions to the exploration of Africa and the Atlantic.

Colombian Exchange

The exchange of goods, ideas, and diseases between the New and Old Worlds following Columbus's voyages, significantly impacting both continents.

Silk Road

A network of trade routes that connected the East and West, facilitating the exchange of goods, culture, and ideas between Asia and Europe, particularly during the medieval period.

Astrolabe

An ancient navigational instrument used for measuring the altitude of celestial bodies. It greatly aided sailors in determining their latitude at sea, especially during the Age of Exploration.

Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century that was used by the Portuguese and Spanish for exploration and trade.

Smallpox

A highly infectious viral disease that caused fever and body aches, characterized by a distinctive pustular rash. It played a significant role in the demographic changes in the Americas following European contact.

Indigenous

peoples of the Americas prior to European colonization, consisting of numerous diverse cultures and societies.

Cash Crops

Grown primarily for sale and profit rather than for subsistence, including tobacco, cotton, and sugar, which were significant in the colonial economy.

Charter

A legal document granted by a governing authority, establishing a colony or corporation and outlining its rights and privileges.

Chartered Companies

a corporation formed by special permission from a sovereign, often to colonize a region or handle imports/exports from a specific colony

Mesoamerica

A historical region and cultural area in southern Mexico and northern Central America, known for its pre-Columbian civilizations such as the Maya and Aztec.

Andean

A mountain range in South America, stretching along the western edge of the continent, home to diverse ecosystems and ancient civilizations such as the Inca.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

The forced transportation of enslaved Africans to the Americas, primarily between the 16th and 19th centuries, as part of the triangular trade system.

Triangular Trade

A historical trade system that connected Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of goods and enslaved people. It played a significant role in the economic development of the Atlantic world from the 16th to the 19th centuries.

Maritime

related to navigation and sea travel, including the transport of goods and people across oceans.

Marco Polo

A Venetian merchant and explorer who traveled to Asia and documented his experiences. His writings inspired later exploration and trade.

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the role of the state in managing trade and ensuring national wealth by maximizing exports and minimizing imports, prevalent in Europe from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

God, Gold, Glory

The motivations for European exploration during the Age of Discovery, emphasizing the desire for wealth, religious expansion, and national prestige.

Hernan Cortes

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

Lateen

A triangular sail developed in the Mediterranean that allowed ships to sail against the wind, crucial for maritime trade and exploration during the Age of Discovery.

Gyres

Large circular ocean currents that influence global climate and marine navigation.

Ceuta

A strategically located port city in North Africa that was the first European possession in sub-Saharan Africa, captured by Portugal in 1415.

Bartolomeu Dias

A Portuguese explorer who was the first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa, reaching the Indian Ocean in 1488.

Vasco De Gama

A Portuguese explorer who was the first European to reach India by sea, arriving in Calicut in 1498.

Ferdinand and Isabella

The Catholic Monarchs of Spain who unified the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon. They sponsored Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage, which led to the discovery of the Americas.

Ferdinand Magellan

A Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, reaching the Philippines before his death in 1521.

Circumnavigate

To travel all the way around the Earth in a ship or aircraft.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement between Spain and Portugal, signed in 1494, that divided newly discovered lands outside Europe between the two kingdoms along a meridian.

Giovanni de Verrazoano

An Italian explorer who sailed for France and is known for mapping the Atlantic coast of North America, including New York Harbor, during his expeditions in the early 16th century.

Jacques Cartier

A French explorer who made three voyages to Canada in the 16th century, claiming the territory for France and searching for a route to Asia.

Samuel De Champlain

A French explorer known as the "Father of New France," who founded Quebec City in 1608 and helped establish French influence in the Americas.

Evangelization

The process of spreading Christianity to new areas, often associated with European explorers and colonizers who sought to convert Indigenous peoples.

John Cabot

An Italian explorer working for England, known for his 1497 voyage to North America, where he is credited with discovering parts of Canada.

Sir Francis Drake

An English sea captain and privateer known for his circumnavigation of the globe from 1577 to 1580, and for his attacks on Spanish ships and settlements during the Elizabethan Era.

Joint-Stock Company

A business entity where different investors contribute money to fund colonial ventures, sharing the risks and profits.

George Calvert

An Englishman who founded the colony of Maryland as a refuge for Catholics in the early 17th century.

Dutch East India Company

A powerful trading company established in 1602 to control trade in the East Indies and compete with other European powers.

Galleons

Large sailing ships used for trade and transport of goods, particularly between Europe and the Americas during the Age of Exploration.

Multinational Corporation

A large company that operates in multiple countries, engaging in international trade and commerce.