Transoceanic Trade and Cultural Exchange

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards based on notes from a lecture covering historical exchanges, labor systems, maritime technology, and diseases.

Columbian Exchange

The widespread transfer of plants, animals, diseases, and culture between the New World and the Old World, beginning from the late 15th century.

Old World

Refers to Afro-Eurasia, which experienced population growth due to the adoption of American food crops from the Columbian Exchange.

New World

Refers to the Americas, which saw an 80 to 95 percent reduction in the Indigenous population due to Old World communicable diseases.

Transoceanic Interconnections

The global networks and exploration that expanded starting in the 1400s.

Triangular Trade

A system established by Europeans to supply the agricultural economy of the Americas with African slaves.

Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

The system involving the export of African slaves to the Americas, comprising 11.7 million Africans between the 16th and 19th centuries.

Silver Trade

The massive movement of silver bullion, particularly from Spanish colonial America and Tokugawa Japan.

Arbitrage

Profitable trade between gold and silver across different regions.

Monetization

The conversion of an economy from barter to using money exchange.

Mercantilism

Economic principles emphasizing exporting many goods while importing little, used by trading-post empires.

Isolationism

Restrictive trade policies adopted by some Asian states to limit the effects of European-dominated trade.

Maritime empires

Empires established by European states during the Age of Exploration, often using mercantilist principles.

Trading-post empire

An empire based on small trade outposts, exemplified by the Portuguese.

Ming Dynasty

The Chinese government that required all domestic taxes to be paid in silver and restricted trade.

Tokugawa Shogunate

The Japanese government that led the world in silver production and later practiced isolationism.

Xing (Qing Dynasty)

The dynasty that succeeded the Ming and accepted silver as money while adopting an expansionary monetary policy.

Coerced labor

Forced labor used in the colonial economies of the Americas.

Encomienda system

A system where a conquistador was granted land and natives, supposed to protect and Christianize them.

Hacienda system

A system where landowners used coerced labor to work agricultural fields.

Mit’a system

An Incan labor obligation where young men devoted labor to public work projects.

Chattel slavery

A form of slavery where individuals are considered property to be bought and sold forever.

Indentured servitude

A system where servants contracted to work for a specified period in exchange for passage to the New World.

Casta System

A social system adopted by the Spanish to classify racial combinations in the Americas.

Maroon societies

Descendants of runaway African slaves who formed independent settlements.

Smallpox

The deadliest imported Old World disease that decimated indigenous populations in the Americas.

Measles

A disease brought by Spanish soldiers that killed many Native Americans.

Syphilis

A disease that may have spread from the Caribbean to Europe by Columbus's crew.

Malaria

A disease transmitted by mosquitoes, brought to the New World from the Old World.

Maize (Corn)

A New World crop that became a staple in Afro-Eurasia.

Potatoes

A New World crop that contributed significantly to population growth and urbanization in Afro-Eurasia.

Sugarcane

An Old World crop introduced to the Spanish West Indies that became a primary commodity.

Cash crops

Crops grown for sale rather than for subsistence, like cotton and sugar.

Cacao/Cocoa bean

A New World crop first grown by the Spanish and consumed as a luxury item.

Lateen sail

A triangular sail adapted by Portuguese caravels for navigation.

Caravel

A fast ship developed in Portugal for long-distance trade.

Carrack

A ship design combining Mediterranean and Northern European styles, capable of weighing up to 2,000 tons.

Magnetic compass

An instrument from China useful for determining a ship's location.

Astrolabe

A navigation tool used by European explorers to measure latitude and time.

Astronomical Charts

Maps of stars and galaxies that aided in navigation.

Kamal

A navigation tool developed by Arab sailors to measure altitude.

Cross staff and back staff

Tools used to find latitude, with the back staff developed to rely on the sun's shadow.

Cannon

Ship weapons essential for long-distance trade and naval warfare.