APUSH Unit 1 Key Terms

astrolabe

Prior to Columbus’ initial expedition, Portuguese navigators greatly improved navigational instruments like the astrolabe. The astrolabe is a device that allowed for sailors to determine their lines of latitude, keeping them straight on course. It allowed sailors to identify distance and time based on the location of the sun and stars in relation to the horizon. Using the astrolabe, the Portuguese were able to embark on expeditions to Africa and later the Americas.

Atlantic world

The lands bordering the Atlantic such as Europe, Africa, and the Americas, were knit together by the exchanges in the Columbian Exchange into the Atlantic World. Specifically, the Atlantic World is defined by the interactions among the people, plants, and animals, beginning in the late 15th century. In the Atlantic World, a network of trade routes were established that linked both sides of the Atlantic. It was caused by the European exploration of the Americas, and was expanded as additional European nations came to the Americas as they were enabled by technological advancements.

Aztec

Located in present-day Mexico City, the capital of the Aztec Empire was Tenochtitlan. It was comprised of a network of nation states from the 14th to 16th century. The Aztecs invaded the region and settled, expanding their population with the use of agriculture and advanced irrigation techniques. They had extensive trade networks and were a prosperous civilization. Ultimately, the empire collapsed after the arrival of the Spaniards who conquered the capital city.

Capitalism

Capitalism is an economic system based on private business, ownership of property, and the open exchange of goods between property holders. In the 16th century, as the Columbian Exchange generated more wealth for European countries, the end of feudalism was accelerated and capitalism emerged. It was triggered by the influx of wealth. As more wealth emerged, aristocrats wanted to manage it themselves, leading to investments in exploration. It encouraged the development of joint-stock companies to invest overseas to gain additional profits.

caravel

Prince Henry encouraged new technological advances in order for further explorations. In the 1400s, the Portuguese developed a ship known as a caravel. It was narrow, small, and swift, allowing explorers to sail into the wind much faster than traditional vessels. It had narrow hulls and triangular sails that were especially effective for navigating the coast of West Africa.

It enabled Portuguese explorers to sail to Africa, engaging in trade and establishing trading posts. These ships were also used in the explorations to the Americas.

columbian exchange

After Columbus traveled to the Americas and colonies were formed, the Columbian Exchange was created. It began in 1492, and was caused by the establishment of the colonies in the Americas. It is the exchange of diseases, plants, animals, peoples, etc. between the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa) and the New World (the Americas). The exchange ultimately transformed both worlds. In the New World, diseases brought from the Columbian Exchange devastated Native American populations. On the other hand, new crops taken from the New World into the Old World allowed for an increase in the population as flood was aplenty.

conquistador

The conquistadors were Spanish in the Americas known as conquerors, who invaded and conquered Native American lands. They explored and created colonies in the 15th and 16th centuries. Well-known conquistadors toppled both the Aztec and Incan Empires, asserting their dominance throughout the Americas. They extracted large amounts of wealth to send back to Europe and overpowered Native American populations as the Natives were toppled by disease.

encomienda

In the 1500s, the encomienda system was established in the Americas where Spanish leaders received land and all of the labor of the people on the land. It was caused because the Spanish were interested in increasing wealth through mining and cash crops, which were very labor intensive. They needed a system to guarantee free labor to work their endeavors, so the system spread wisely. The system was justified by the Spanish’s want to convert the Native Americans. Many Native Americans were unhappy, so they fled the land to escape their enslavement.

spanish caste system

As people mixed in the colonial societies, the Spanish needed a way to maintain control and to determine who owed what amount of taxes. Therefore, in the 16th century, the Spanish developed a social hierarchy to organize the people based off of race and ancestry, known as the casta system. The peninsulares (Spaniards) were at the top, and the indigenous and enslaved peoples were at the bottom of the hierarchy. An inidividual’s place in the system determined the amount of tax they owed and opportunities they received.