Unit 2: Spain and the Aztecs

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to historical trade routes, imperialism, and the interactions between Europe and the Americas.

Silk Road

An ancient trade route that connected China to the edges of Europe, facilitating the exchange of goods such as silk, spices, and more.

Middle Man

Merchants who act as intermediaries in trade, often increasing the price of goods as they pass through multiple hands.

Reconquista

The historical period in which Christians sought to reclaim the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule, culminating in 1492.

Conquistador

Spanish soldiers and explorers who were instrumental in the conquest of the Americas and the establishment of Spanish dominance.

Aztec Empire

A powerful Mesoamerican culture centered in present-day Mexico, known for its advanced society and military prowess.

Encomienda

A system in Spanish America where settlers were granted land and the forced labor of local indigenous people.

Middle Passage

The sea route taken by slave ships from West Africa to the Americas, notorious for its brutal conditions.

Triangular Trade

A trade network connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas, involving the exchange of goods, enslaved people, and raw materials.

Imperialism

A policy of extending a country's power and influence through colonization, military force, or other means.

Malinche

A native woman who served as an interpreter and advisor to Hernán Cortés during the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire.