AP World History – Chapters 18 & 19 Study Guide

30 vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from AP World History Chapters 18 and 19.

Motives behind European exploration and expansion (1450–1750)

Economic gain, spreading Christianity, and national rivalry.

Major colonial empires established by European countries

Spain, Portugal, France, England, and the Netherlands.

Role of Portugal in early exploration

Led in maritime exploration, discovering sea routes to India and Africa.

How Spain established its empire in the Americas

Conquered indigenous empires like the Aztecs and Incas and claimed territories.

Encomienda system

A labor system that granted colonists the right to demand tribute and forced labor from indigenous peoples.

Hacienda system

Large estates where agricultural products were produced, often using indigenous labor.

Impact of European colonization on indigenous populations

Population decline due to disease, labor exploitation, and cultural disruption.

Economic system resulting from colonization and trade

Mercantilism, which emphasized accumulating wealth through trade.

Definition of mercantilism

Economic theory that trade generates wealth, used to justify colonial expansion.

Contribution of the Atlantic slave trade to colonial economies

Provided a labor force for plantations, enriching European economies.

Differences between Spanish, Portuguese, French, and English colonial systems

Varying degrees of exploitation, settlement types, and trade practices.

Impact of silver mining in Spanish America on global trade

Silver influx contributed to global economic interdependence and inflation.

Columbian Exchange

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

Role of Catholic missionaries

Spread Christianity and European culture, often at the expense of indigenous practices.

King Philip II of Spain's strategy

Strengthened Spain’s power through diplomacy, military conquest, and religious unity.

Louis XIV of France's approach to empire

Centralized power in monarchy, promoted colonial expansion, and economic growth.

Maritime technology advancements

Innovations such as the caravel and compass that facilitated navigation and exploration.

Treaty of Tordesillas

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

Main causes of the transatlantic slave trade

Demand for labor on plantations and African internal conflicts.

African societies' participation in the slave trade

Captured and sold their enemies or marginalized groups to European traders.

Effects of the slave trade on African populations and economies

Population depletion, social disruption, and economic shifts towards targeting slave capture.

Middle Passage

The brutal sea journey transporting enslaved Africans to the Americas, characterized by high mortality.

Cash crops dependent on enslaved labor

Sugar, tobacco, and cotton were primary crops cultivated with enslaved workers.

Differences in slavery in British North America, Caribbean, and Brazil

Variations in labor systems, numbers of enslaved individuals, and societal treatment.

Maroon communities

Escapee groups of enslaved people who formed independent communities and resisted slavery.

Key figures in abolition movements

Individuals like William Wilberforce and Frederick Douglass advocated for the end of slavery.

Impact of the abolition of British slavery in 1833

Marked the beginning of emancipation debates and shifts toward labor reform.

Cultural preservation by enslaved Africans

Maintained traditions, languages, and religions despite oppression in the Americas.

Triangular trade

A trading system between Europe, Africa, and the Americas characterized by the exchange of goods and enslaved people.

Role of European weapons in African warfare

Advanced weaponry intensified conflicts and established dominance in trading relationships.

Economic and social systems replacing slavery after abolition

Shifted to wage labor systems and formalized labor rights structures.

Bartolome de Las Casas

A Spanish missionary who advocated for the rights of indigenous people and condemned abuses.

Prince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who significantly advanced maritime exploration and navigation.

Olaudah Equiano

An abolitionist and former enslaved person whose autobiography raised awareness about slavery.

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers and conquerors who sought riches and glory in the Americas.

Asante Kingdom's connection to the slave trade

A powerful West African kingdom that participated in the slave trade for economic benefit.

Effects of the Columbian Exchange on Europe and the Americas

Introduced new crops, livestock, and diseases, transforming diets and populations globally.

Term 'Atlantic System'

Refers to the interconnected trade and cultural exchange across the Atlantic Ocean.

Sugar plantations' role in slavery expansion

High demand for sugar intensified the need for enslaved labor in the Americas.

Definition of syncretism

The blending of different religious beliefs, seen in African diaspora religions like Vodun.

Main reasons for European rivalry in colonization

Competition for resources, territorial expansion, and dominance in trade.

Role of joint-stock companies like Dutch East India Company

Facilitated economic investment in trade ventures and colonial expansion.

Jesuits' influence in the Americas and Asia

Catholic missionary group that played a pivotal role in education and cultural exchange.