European Exploration and Expansion (1500-1800)

These flashcards cover key concepts from the Age of Exploration and Expansion, focusing on European motivations, key figures, economic systems, and consequences of exploration.

What inspired European explorers during the Age of Exploration?

They sought wealth, new lands, converts for Christianity, and established global trade routes.

Who was Amerigo Vespucci?

An Italian navigator whose letters about his travels led to the use of the name 'America'.

What were the negative consequences of European expansion for indigenous peoples?

They faced war, disease, and cultural devastation.

What key phrase summarizes the motivations for European expansion?

Gold, glory, and God.

What was the caravel?

A small, fast ship invented by the Portuguese essential for long-distance voyages.

Which two countries were the leading forces in early exploration?

Portugal and Spain.

What event allowed Spain and Portugal to resolve territorial disputes in the Americas?

The Treaty of Tordesillas.

What did the Columbian Exchange involve?

The transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between Europe and the Americas.

What labor system allowed Spanish landowners to use Native Americans for labor?

The encomienda system.

Who were the peninsulares?

Spanish and Portuguese officials born in Europe who held power in colonial Latin America.

What was mercantilism?

An economic theory that emphasized the importance of accumulating gold and silver and maintaining a favorable balance of trade.

What were the mita and encomienda systems?

Labor systems used by the Spanish in Latin America to exploit indigenous and enslaved labor.

How did the introduction of European livestock and crops affect Native American populations?

It had transformative effects on their diets and lifestyles, but also brought diseases that decimated populations.

What impact did European diseases have on indigenous peoples?

Many indigenous peoples had no immunity, leading to severe population declines.

What was the significance of the Treaty of Tordesillas?

It divided new lands between Spain and Portugal to resolve territorial claims.

What role did the Catholic Church play during the colonization of Latin America?

It sought to convert indigenous peoples and established schools and missions.

Who were the conquistadors?

Spanish conquerors who used military technology and alliances to conquer Native American empires.

What was a primary consequence of the Atlantic Slave Trade?

The forced transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas for labor on plantations.

How did Columbus's voyages affect European interest in the Americas?

They sparked widespread exploration and colonization efforts.

What was the goal of the Jesuit missions in Latin America?

To convert indigenous peoples to Christianity and educate them.

What were some crops exchanged during the Columbian Exchange?

Crops such as potatoes and tobacco from the Americas; wheat and sugarcane from Europe.

What types of crops did the Spanish and Portuguese establish in their colonies?

Sugar, tobacco, cotton, and other cash crops.

What were the long-term effects of the triangular trade on African societies?

Increased violence and warfare, social disruption, and population declines.