Unit 4: Transoceanic Interconnections

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to European exploration and the global interconnections that resulted from maritime endeavors.

Magnetic Compass

A navigational instrument that shows direction, originated from China.

Astrolabe

An ancient instrument used to determine latitude by measuring the position of stars; derived from Ancient Greece and the Arab world.

Lateen Sail

A triangular sail that allows ships to cut through the wind, originating from the Arab world.

Portuguese Caravel

A small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed by the Portuguese for exploring shallow coastal areas.

Mercantilism

An economic theory asserting that a country's wealth is finite; thus, countries should aim to acquire the largest share of wealth by maintaining a favorable balance of trade.

Joint-Stock Companies

Businesses owned by shareholders; investors risk only what they invested, which allowed for financing of explorations.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the Americas and the Old World, which drastically affected both hemispheres.

Chattel Slavery

A system in which enslaved persons were treated as property; specifically race-based and hereditary in the Americas.

Indentured Servitude

A labor system where individuals worked for a certain number of years in exchange for passage to America or other benefits.

Encomienda System

A labor system established by the Spanish, granting settlers the right to extract labor from indigenous people in exchange for food and protection.

Casta System

A social hierarchy established by the Spanish in the Americas based on race and ancestry, affecting one's social status.

European Maritime Empires

Colonial territories established by European states during the Age of Exploration, including those of Portugal, Spain, France, the Netherlands, and Britain.

Fronde Rebellion

A series of civil wars in France (1648-1653) against the royal authority of Louis XIV, primarily led by nobles protesting increased taxation.

Great Dying

The demographic collapse of indigenous populations in the Americas due to diseases like smallpox brought over by Europeans.

Tokugawa Japan's Resistance

The period during which Japan isolated itself from the West and suppressed Christianity, primarily due to threat perceptions of western powers.

Atlantic System

A new global trading system that involved the movement of goods, wealth, and labor across the Atlantic Ocean, significantly impacting both Americas and Europe.

Mit'a System

A labor system used by the Spanish to force Native Americans to work in mines for part of the year, differing from the Incan system which benefitted the public.

Cash Cropping

Agricultural practice focused on growing specific crops for sale rather than for subsistence, often facilitated by coerced labor in the Americas.