AP WORLD QUIZ ONCE MOOREE

Queen Elizabeth I

English monarch (1558-1603) who supported exploration, defeating the Spanish Armada and expanding England's overseas empire. Located in Europe

Philip II

King of Spain who sent the Spanish Armada against England in 1588; strong supporter of Catholicism and empire-building. Located in Europe

Queen Isabella & Ferdinand

Spanish monarchs who sponsored Columbus' voyages, unifying Spain and launching overseas expansion. Located in Europe

Prince Henry the Navigator

Portuguese prince who funded navigation schools and voyages along Africa's coast, advancing exploration. Located in Europe

Spanish Armada

Large Spanish fleet sent to invade England in 1588, defeated by England, marking the decline of Spanish naval dominance.

Vasco da Gama

Portuguese explorer; first European to sail around Africa to reach India (1498), opening direct sea trade to the Indian Ocean. Located in Europe

Ferdinand Magellan

Portuguese explorer who led the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe (though he was killed in the Philippines). Located in Europe

Christopher Columbus

Italian explorer sponsored by Spain; reached the Americas in 1492, starting European colonization. Located in Europe

Jacques Cartier

French explorer who sailed the St. Lawrence River in North America, claiming parts of Canada for France. Located in Europe

Francis Drake

English sea captain and privateer; second person to circumnavigate the globe; raided Spanish ships. Located in Europe

Conquistadors

Spanish conquerors who defeated Indigenous empires in the Americas (e.g., Cortés in Mexico, Pizarro in Peru). Located in Latin America

Scientific Revolution

Movement in Europe in the 17th century, where Europeans began to use reason and logic to question the natural world. This led to developments in mapmaking, medicine and astronomy.

Hernán Cortés

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire (1519-1521). From Europe, impact in Latin America

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador who conquered the Inca Empire (1532-1533). From Europe, impact in Latin America

Henry Hudson

English explorer who sailed for the Dutch and English, explored parts of the Arctic and North America (Hudson River).

Northwest Passage

A hoped-for sea route through North America to Asia, sought by explorers but never found.

Dutch Trading Empire

The global network of trade posts established by the Dutch in Asia, Africa, and the Americas (especially through the Dutch East India Company).

Java

An Indonesian island that became a key base of the Dutch East India Company. Located in Southeast Asia

Circumnavigation

Sailing completely around the globe (first achieved by Magellan's expedition).

Caravel

A small, fast Portuguese sailing ship with triangular (lateen) sails, ideal for long voyages. Originated in Europe

Astrolabe

Navigation tool used to determine latitude by measuring the position of the stars. Originated in the Middle East

Compass

Navigational instrument that shows direction using Earth's magnetic field. Originated in East Asia

Galleons

Large Spanish ships used for oceanic trade and transporting treasure, particularly silver, from the Americas. Originated in Europe

Stern Mounted Rudder

Steering device on the back of ships, improving control during voyages. Originated in East Asia

Lateen Sail

Triangular sail that allowed ships to sail against the wind. Originated in the Middle East

Carrack

Large European merchant ship, capable of long ocean voyages. Originated in Europe

Fluyt

Dutch ship designed for efficient cargo transport, cheaper to build and crew. Originated in Europe

Cartography

The science and practice of making maps, improved greatly during the Age of Exploration.

Maize

Corn; staple crop from the Americas that spread to Europe, Africa, and Asia. Originated in North America

Measles

Old World disease that devastated Indigenous populations in the Americas. Originated in Old World

Smallpox

Deadly Old World disease that wiped out large numbers of Indigenous peoples and was the primary cause of the "Great Dying". Originated in Old World

Malaria

Mosquito-borne disease from Africa that spread to the Americas.

Typhoid

Highly contagious bacterial infection spread by contaminated food and water causing deadly fever; part of European disease transmission.

Cholera

Waterborne disease causing extreme dehydration from excessive diarrhea.

Great Dying

Massive decline of Indigenous populations in the Americas due to the spread of old world diseases, killing up to 90% of the population. Located in the Americas

Taino

Indigenous Caribbean people who were among the first to encounter Columbus; devastated by disease and colonization. Located in the Caribbean

Sugarcane

Cash crop from Southeast Asia that thrived in the Americas, driving the plantation system and slave trade.

Cacao

Plant from the Americas used to make chocolate, became popular in Europe. Originated in Central America or Mexico

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, people, diseases, and ideas between the Old World and New World after 1492.

Middle Passage

Brutal ocean journey of enslaved Africans from West Africa to the Americas, concentrating in Brazil and the Caribbean, resulted in high mortality rates.

Atlantic Slave Trade

Forced transportation of Africans across the Atlantic to work on plantations and other manual labor in the Americas.

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale farming using enslaved labor, especially for sugar, tobacco, and cotton. Located in the Americas

Oyo Empire

Powerful West African empire involved in the slave trade, often selling captured people from rival kingdoms. Located in West Africa

Triangle Trade

Trade system linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas (manufactured goods → Africa; slaves → Americas; raw goods → Europe).

Mercantilist

Economic system where colonies existed to benefit the mother country by providing resources and markets.

Dahomey

West African kingdom that grew wealthy by participating in the slave trade, controlling gold fields, and for its powerful female military regiment. Located in West Africa

Asante

West African kingdom (modern-day Ghana) that profited from trading gold and slaves. Located in West Africa

King Alfonso I

Ruler of the Kongo who initially cooperated with Portuguese but later protested the negative effects of the slave trade. Located in

Olaudah Equiano

Former enslaved African who wrote an autobiography describing the horrors of slavery and the Middle Passage.

African Diaspora

The spread of African peoples and culture due to the transatlantic slave trade.