Key Concepts of European Exploration and Colonization

Middle passage

transports of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean on ships to the Americas

Maritime

seafaring or oceangoing; relating to the sea or ocean

Mita

a labor system that the Spanish administrators in Peru used to draft indigenous people to work

Conquistadores

soldiers and explorers who led the Spanish conquest of the Americas

Prince Henry the Navigator

funded several journeys to search for riches in Africa. Portuguese explorers traveled far to trade gold and enslaved people, his explorations began the process for European exploration

Caravel

a small, fast, maneuverable ship that had a large cargo hold and usually three masts with lateen sails

Columbian Exchange

the exchange of plants, animals, and diseases between the Western and Eastern Hemispheres as a result of exploration

Colony

settlements of people living in a new territory, linked with the parent country by trade and direct government control

Peninsulares

a person born on the Iberian Peninsula; typically, a Spanish or Portuguese official who resided temporarily in Latin America for political and economic gain and then returned to Europe

Creoles

a person of European descent born in Latin America and living there permanently

Encomienda

a system of labor the Spanish used in the Americas; Spanish landowners had the right, as granted by Queen Isabella, to use Native Americans as laborers

Evangelization

the act of converting people to Christianity

Mercantilism

a set of principles that held that the prosperity of a nation depended on a large supply of gold and silver

Cortes

Spanish conqueror of Mexico. Believed in converting indigenous to Catholic faith, built Spanish churches after taking over Aztec

Pizarro

introduced steel weapons, gunpowder to Inca, established capital at Lima as new colony of Spanish Empire

Capitalism

an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners rather than by the state

Joint stock company

a company jointly owned by shareholders

3 g's of exploration

Gold, glory, God

Key motives for European expansion

gold/glory= important for competition between nations to secure trade opportunities, territories, wealth

Role of Caribbean in slave trade

Received a lot of slaves where they were introduced to African culture; has sugar plantations; Caribbeans brought slaves because they were less expensive than children; cruel and base of crimes against enslaved

Groups that condemned Slave trade

Alfonso of Congo, Quakers and Protestant critics, American/French/Haitian Revolutions

First and last to end slave trade

British were first to end; Brazil was last; (Denmark possibly first to end?)

Goals of colonization and trade

Economic profit, acquiring spices, food, cotton, gold unavailable to Europe; trade markets to attain trade monopolies and establish dominance; territorial control, expansion of their empire to expand European influence and have control over rival powers; spread Christianity (especially indigenous) as well as European culture dominance around as part of civilizing

Columbian exchange impact

Increase in trade so rise in new economic systems; spread of ideas, religions, technology; people moved and relocated; spread of diseases especially to indigenous leading to population decline; solidified European dominance; slave trade, migration, cultural exchange

Social classes/hierarchy of new world

Peninsulares (highest social class, Spanish/Portuguese born in Europe who then migrated to Americas, landowners/controlled wealth, extreme privileges), Creoles (Spanish/Portuguese descent born in Americas, were wealthy/influential excluded from top government roles), different multiracial groups (natives, Africans), Mestizos (offspring of intermarriages between Spanish/natives)

Juana Ines de la Cruz contributions

Mex. nun advocated womans rights and education in colonial Mexico. She is known for her poetry and essays that challenged societal norms.

Nun who wrote poetry

Advocated for women's education.

Heavily advocated for women in literary works

juana ines de la cruz

Carta atenagórica

Defended the right of women to engage in intellectual pursuits.

Role of Catholic Church in Latin America

Determined to christianize indigenous.

Influence on society and culture

Wanted to instruct indigenous on doctrines of Christian faith and teach them reading and writing.

Astrolabe

Measured latitude of sun/stars, used for navigation.

Compass

Used for navigation.

Caravel

Made long voyages possible with heavy items when transporting goods.

Cartography

Mapmaking.

Knowledge of wind patterns

Encouraged accurate exploration

Vasco de Gama

Went west, rounded Cape of Good Hope, went east, crossed Indian Ocean, arrived in Calicut.

Bartholomew Dias

Became first European to sail around the southern tip of Africa.

Alfonso de Albuquerque significance

Established trading port at Goa, India, conquered Melaka, destroyed Arab spice trade, controlled Strait of Malacca.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Established by Pope Alexander VI to resolve conflicts over new land between Spain and Portugal.

Line of demarcation

From North Pole to South Pole, west of Cape Verde Islands.

Columbus route

Left Spain, sailed westward towards Asia, misjudging its size and distance, found route to Caribbean.

Magellan significance

1st person to circumnavigate around the globe.

Cortes impact on Aztecs

Took over Aztecs, collapsed their society to establish Mexico City, imposed Catholicism.

Pizarro impact on Incas

Took over Inca Empire, destroyed Inca leadership, forced Spanish structures/labor.

Impact of disease in New World

Diseases destroyed non-immune indigenous peoples across America, causing massive depopulation.

Quebec Colony

Founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608, first permanent French trading post in the Americas.

Goal of mercantilism

Economic principle that stated the wealth and power of a nation depended on trade and supply of gold and silver.

Dutch, English, French Exploration goals

Challenged Portuguese/Spanish for colonial dominance, driven by desire for wealth, power, trade dominance, and religious expansion.

New France

Royal province that aimed to attract colonists to develop the economy and convert others to Christianity.

English Colonization

Efforts to develop land and extract valuable resources while achieving self-sufficiency through colonies and plantations.

Dutch Trade Routes

Establishment of profitable trade routes to access wealth in the East Indies, particularly in the spice and fur trades.

Henry Hudson

Explorer hired by the Dutch East India Company to find a northwest passage to Asia, ultimately discovering the Hudson River and Hudson Bay.

Charter Colony

Operated and administered by shareholders belonging to a joint stock company.

Proprietary Colony

Controlled by individuals or groups who made laws and appointed officials as they pleased.

Settler Colony

Sought to establish economies based on agriculture.

Plantations

Large agricultural estates that grew crops such as sugar, cotton, and tobacco.

Bartolome de Las Casas

Advocate for indigenous rights who gave up his encomienda and wrote about the abuses faced by indigenous people.

Transatlantic Slave Trade

Devastated large parts of Africa, particularly regions like the Gold Coast, Slave Coast, Senegambia, Angola, and the Bight of Biafra.

Triangular Trade

Trade network connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of goods and enslaved people.

Ashanti Empire

Captured and enslaved people through warfare and raids, selling captives for firearms and luxury goods.

Dahomey

Used warfare and raids to capture people for enslavement and sale to European traders.

Motives for Exploration

Pursuit of wealth, territorial expansion, technological advances, and the spread of religion motivated exploration.

Columbian Exchange

Massive transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and cultures between the Old World and New World.

Renaissance Spirit

Set of intellectual, cultural, and artistic ideals that emerged in Europe, impacting the Age of Exploration.

Humanism

Emphasis on classical knowledge and the human experience, leading to a renewed interest in science, art, and philosophy.

Economic Impact of Exploration

Fueled growth of economic development from trade and mercantilism, contributing to the system of slave trade.

Technological Advances in Navigation

Enabled explorers to undertake long voyages, driven by curiosity and the desire for wealth.

Cultural Exchanges

Involved the establishment of European religions and efforts to colonize indigenous populations.

Impact of Diseases

Led to a catastrophic decline in population in the New World.