Age of Exploration

Absolute monarchs

Rulers who hold supreme authority and are not restricted by laws or a constitution

Trade and interest in the “east”

Refers to European interest in trade with Asia, particularly for spices, silk, and other luxury goods

Desire to spread Christianity

A major motivation for European exploration and colonization

Strong central government

A system in which the central authority has a significant control over the state

Mesoamerica

A historical region and cultural area in the americas, spanning from central Mexico to the Americas

Hieroglyphics

A writing system that used symbols or pictures to represent words or sounds, originating in ancient civilizations like Mesopotamia