AP World - Unit 4 - Exploration and the smaller world

Exploration Motives

Europeans explored in the 1400s for 'God, glory, and gold,' aiming to spread Christianity, gain wealth, and find quicker trade routes to Asia.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal, creating an imaginary line to divide South America for colonization.

Columbus's Navigational Vessels

The Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria were the ships used by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492.

Joint-Stock Companies

Businesses where multiple investors pooled their wealth for a common purpose, often used for establishing colonies.

Asiento System

A license that allowed the Spanish to import African slaves into their colonies starting in 1518.

Columbian Exchange

The global transfer of foods, plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and Europe following Columbus's voyages.

Mercantilism

An economic policy that a nation’s power depends on its wealth, emphasizing a favorable balance of trade and colonization.

Hernando Cortez

The Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century.

Encomienda System

A labor system that granted Spanish landlords the right to native labor in exchange for supposedly protecting and Christianizing them.

Middle Passage

The sea journey undertaken by slave ships from West Africa to the West Indies, infamous for its brutality and high mortality rates among slaves.

Scientific Revolution

A period in the mid-1500s where scientific inquiry began to challenge traditional beliefs, leading to advancements in various fields.

Heliocentric Theory

The astronomical theory proposed by Copernicus which states that the Sun is at the center of the universe, contradicting geocentric views.

Separation of Powers

A governance model proposed by Montesquieu where the government’s powers are divided among separate branches to prevent tyranny.

Impact of the Enlightenment

The Enlightenment led to movements for social equality, the questioning of traditional authorities, and inspired revolutions like the American Revolution.

Mestizo

A person of mixed European and Native American ancestry, often resulting from Spanish colonization and marriage.

French and Indian War

A conflict from 1754 to 1763 between British America and New France, where both sides allied with various Native American tribes.

Capitalism

An economic system characterized by private ownership and the investment of wealth for profit, emerging significantly in Europe during this period.

Galileo Galilei

An Italian astronomer who supported the heliocentric theory and made significant contributions to modern physics and observational astronomy.