Unit 8 AP World History Vocab

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to maritime empires and colonial systems, essential for understanding the historical context of exploration and colonization.

Colony

A territory controlled by a foreign nation.

Maritime Empires

Empires that expanded and gained wealth through naval dominance and control of sea-based trade routes, establishing colonies and trading posts globally. Examples include the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, British, and French.

Hispaniola

The first permanent European settlement in the Americas, located in the Caribbean.

Jamestown

The first permanent English colony in North America, established in 1607.

Aztec Empire

An advanced civilization in central Mexico known for its grand cities and temples.

Incan Empire

A powerful empire in South America, known for its sophisticated agricultural techniques and road systems.

Cuzco

The historic capital of the Inca Empire located in modern-day Peru.

Llama

A domesticated South American animal used for transportation and wool.

New Spain

A Spanish colonial empire that included territories in North America and parts of the Caribbean.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, located on an island in Lake Texcoco.

Mexico City

The capital of modern Mexico, built on the ruins of Tenochtitlan.

Lima

The capital city of Peru and the center of Spanish colonial administration in the region.

Guangzhou

A major city in China, significant for trade during the maritime empire period.

Nagasaki

A Japanese city that became a significant trading post during the period of foreign contact.

Goa

A major Portuguese port on India's western coast, conquered in 1510. It became the capital of the Portuguese Empire in the East, a key trading hub, and helped control Indian Ocean trade routes.

Seville

A major Spanish port city that became the primary hub for New World trade after 1492, crucial for Spain's colonial economy.

Vera Cruz

Key port city in Mexico established by Hernán Cortés in 1519, serving as a crucial link for Spanish colonial trade and administration.

Acapulco

A major Pacific port city in colonial Mexico, vital for the Manila Galleon trade linking Spanish America with Asian markets.

Amsterdam

A major trading and financial center in the Netherlands, especially during the Dutch Golden Age, known for its role in global commerce and as a hub for the Dutch East India Company.

Boers

Dutch settlers and farmers who colonized South Africa, often clashing with indigenous populations and the British.

Cape Colony

A Dutch settler colony established at the Cape of Good Hope in 1652 by the Dutch East India Company to serve as a resupply point for ships traveling between Europe and Asia; later became a British colony.

Treaty of Tordesillas

A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal dividing newly discovered lands.

Bartolomé de Las Casas

A Spanish Dominican friar known for advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples.

Florentine Codex

A 16th-century ethnographic research study of the Aztec civilization.

Viceroys

Officials who governed colonies in the name of the Spanish crown.

Viceroyalties

Large administrative districts in colonial empires led by viceroys.

Audiencias

Royal courts established in Spanish America to oversee legal matters.

Haciendas

Large estates or plantations in Spanish colonies.

Rio de Janeiro

A major urban center in Brazil, significant during the colonial era.

New Amsterdam

A Dutch colonial settlement that later became New York City.

Manila

The capital of the Philippines, established as a key trade port during Spanish colonization.

Sociedad de castas

The social hierarchy in colonial Latin America based on racial distinctions.

Elites

The highest social class, often consisting of wealthy landowners and influential figures.

Creoles (Criollos)

People of European descent born in the Americas.

Peninsulares

Spanish-born individuals who held the highest positions in colonial Latin America.

Mestizos

Individuals of mixed European and indigenous ancestry.

Mulattoes

Individuals of mixed European and African ancestry.

Zambos

Individuals of mixed African and indigenous ancestry.

African Diaspora

The dispersion of Africans beyond the continent, especially to the Americas.

Vodun

A religion practiced in Haiti, incorporating African and indigenous elements.

Cult of Saints

Religious practices that venerate saints in various cultures, especially in Latin America.

Virgin of Guadalupe

A significant religious symbol in Mexican culture, representing the Virgin Mary.