early modern era part 1 vocab

Mercantilism

An economic theory that emphasizes the role of the state in managing the economy, particularly through trade and accumulation of wealth.

Vasco da Gama

A Portuguese explorer who was the first to reach India by sea, linking Europe and Asia via the ocean.

Christopher Columbus

An Italian explorer credited with the discovery of the Americas in 1492 while seeking a westward route to Asia.

Hacienda

A large estate or plantation in Spanish-speaking countries, often involved in agriculture and livestock.

Viceroys

Officials who governed colonies on behalf of the Spanish crown, acting as representatives of the monarch.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.

Depopulation

A significant decrease in the population of a region, often due to disease, war, or other catastrophic events.

Joint-stock company

A business entity where different stocks can be bought and owned by shareholders, facilitating investment in exploration and colonization.

Tariffs

Taxes imposed on imported goods to protect domestic industries and generate revenue for the government.

“Gold, God, Glory”

A phrase summarizing the motivations for exploration and colonization, emphasizing wealth, religious conversion, and national pride.

Encomienda System

A labor system in Spanish colonies that granted colonists the right to demand tribute and forced labor from indigenous people.

Hernan Cortes

A Spanish conquistador known for leading the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Francisco Pizarro

A Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Inca Empire in Peru.

Treaty of Tordesillas

An agreement between Spain and Portugal in 1494 that divided newly discovered lands between the two nations.

Moctezuma

The ninth ruler of the Aztec Empire, known for his encounter with Hernan Cortes.

Atahualpa

The last Inca emperor, who was captured and executed by Spanish conquistadors.

Mestizos

People of mixed European and indigenous ancestry in Latin America.

Peninsulares

Spanish-born individuals residing in the colonies, often holding the highest social and political positions.

Quinto real (tax)

A tax imposed by the Spanish crown, requiring one-fifth of all precious metals mined in the colonies to be sent to Spain.

Potosi (colony)

A major silver mining city in colonial Bolivia, known for its wealth and exploitation of indigenous labor.

Cash crops

Agricultural products grown for sale rather than for personal consumption, often used in colonial economies.

Jamestown (colony)

The first permanent English settlement in North America, established in 1607 in Virginia.

Taino

An indigenous people of the Caribbean, notably encountered by Christopher Columbus.

Volta do mar

A navigational technique used by Portuguese sailors to sail around the winds and currents of the Atlantic Ocean.

Reconquista

The period of history in the Iberian Peninsula when Christian kingdoms sought to recapture territory from Muslim rule.

Indentured servants

Individuals who worked for a specified number of years in exchange for passage to the New World and eventual freedom.

Council of Trent

A major ecumenical council of the Catholic Church that addressed issues of the Protestant Reformation and clarified Catholic doctrine.

Martin Luther

A German monk whose 95 Theses sparked the Protestant Reformation by challenging the practices of the Catholic Church.

Protestant Reformation

A religious movement in the 16th century that led to the establishment of Protestant churches and significant changes in Christianity.

John Calvin

A theologian whose teachings on predestination and the sovereignty of God influenced the development of Calvinism.

Catholic Reformation

A period of Catholic revival and reform in response to the Protestant Reformation, including the Council of Trent.

Jesuits

A religious order founded by Ignatius of Loyola, known for their missionary work and educational efforts.

Absolutism

A political system in which a single ruler holds absolute power, often justified by divine right.

Peter the Great

The Tsar of Russia who implemented extensive reforms to modernize and westernize the country.

Louis XIV of France

The "Sun King," known for his absolute monarchy and the establishment of a centralized state.

Constitutionalism

A political philosophy that advocates for government according to a constitution that limits powers and protects individual rights.

Henry VIII

King of England known for his role in the separation of the Church of England from the Roman Catholic Church.

Nation-state

A political entity characterized by a defined territory, a permanent population, and a government.

Scientific Revolution

A period of significant advancements in scientific thought and methodology during the 16th