AP World History 4.2 - 4.4 Flashcards

trading post empire

An empire built on a network of trading posts controlling key trade routes instead of large territories.

mercantilism

Economic theory emphasizing national wealth through exports over imports, requiring heavy government intervention.

Manila

Spanish colonial city in the Philippines, pivotal for trans-Pacific trade, particularly in silver and spices.

Prince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who significantly advanced maritime exploration by sponsoring expeditions along the African coast.

Christopher Columbus

Explorer credited with the 1492 discovery of the Americas, representing the start of widespread European exploration.

Bartholomew Diaz

Portuguese explorer who first rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, opening sea routes to the East.

Vasco Da Gama

First European to reach India by sea, establishing direct trade routes in 1498.

Ferdinand Magellan

Explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe, demonstrating the world's vastness.

northwest passage

A sought-after maritime route through North America to Asia, pursued by several explorers but ultimately not found.

Quebec

First permanent French settlement in North America, established as a fur trading post in the early 17th century.

Jamestown

The first successful English colony in the Americas, founded in 1607 in Virginia.

New Amsterdam

Dutch settlement on the island of Manhattan, which became a major trade hub before being taken by the English

smallpox

A deadly disease introduced to the Americas by Europeans that caused widespread mortality among indigenous populations.

conquistadores

Spanish explorers and conquerors who led expeditions to conquer indigenous lands in the Americas for Spain.

Columbian Exchange

The extensive transfer of goods, crops, and diseases between the Americas and the Eastern Hemisphere following European exploration.

transatlantic slave trade

The brutal trade network that forcibly transported millions of Africans to the Americas for slave labor.

engenhos

Large-scale sugar plantations in Portuguese Brazil, central to the economy and reliant on enslaved labor for production.

cash crop

Agricultural products grown primarily for profit, significantly shaping economies in the Americas and Europe.

African Diaspora

The dispersal and cultural blending of African peoples as a result of slavery in the Americas, leading to significant cultural impacts

Asante Empire

West African kingdom known for its wealth and centralization in the 18th century.

Aztec Empire

Mesoamerican civilization known for its urban centers, tribute system, and eventual conquest by Spain.

Inca Empire

South American empire noted for its vast territories, advanced engineering, and fall to Spanish conquistadors.

Mexico City

Capital of New Spain, built on the ruins of Tenochtitlán after the Spanish conquest.

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that conquered the Inca Empire in the 16th century.

Atahualpa

Last emperor of the Inca Empire, captured and executed by Pizarro's forces.

Treaty of Tordesillas

1494 agreement dividing newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.

Hispaniola

Caribbean island colonized by Spain, home to the first European settlement in the Americas.

Conquistadores

Spanish explorers and conquerors who led expeditions in the Americas to claim territories.

Mercantilism

Economic theory that promoted government regulation of a nation's economy for augmenting state power.

Indentured Servitude

Labor system where individuals contracted to work for a fixed term in exchange for passage.

Chattel Slavery

System where individuals were considered property, bought and sold as commodities.

Encomienda

Labor system instituted by the Spanish crown, allowing colonists to demand labor from indigenous peoples.

Mit’a System

Incan labor tax system adapted by the Spanish to demand labor for mining and agriculture.

Middle Passage

The horrific voyage of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic to the Americas