Columbian exchange, Spanish exploration and conquest.

Columbian Exchange

The transfer of food, animals, minerals, people, and diseases between Africa, Europe, and America.

Hernan Cortes

Spanish conquistador who caused the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire, located on an island in Lake Texcoco.

Smallpox impact on Native Americans

Smallpox drastically reduced the Native American population due to lack of immunity.

Inca population decline

The Inca population decreased from 9 million to 500,000 due to disease.

Immunity disparity

Europeans and Africans had immunity to smallpox, while Native Americans did not.

Foods transferred from America to Europe

Maize, tomatoes, potatoes, cacao, and tobacco.

Foods transferred from Europe/Africa to America

Rice, wheat, soybeans, rye, lemons, oranges, horses, pigs, cattle, and chicken.

Demand for precious metals

Gold and silver were in high demand during the Columbian Exchange.

Feudalism

A system where peasants lived and worked on the land of a noble in exchange for protection.

Capitalism

An economic system based on private ownership and the exchange of goods.

Middle Passage

The transfer of enslaved Africans through the Atlantic Ocean.

Mercantilism

The dominant economic system in Europe dependent on government direction and intervention.

Joint-stock companies

Businesses owned by many people, sharing profits and risks.

Transformation of Europe post-1500

Western Europe began experiencing unprecedented economic growth after 1500.

Economic growth in Western Europe

Growth attributed to changes in trade, exploration, and the emergence of capitalism.

Armed protection under feudalism

Peasants received protection from nobles in exchange for labor on the land.

Role of disease in conquest

Diseases like smallpox significantly weakened Indigenous populations, aiding European conquests.

Effects of the Columbian Exchange

Introduction of new crops and livestock, leading to significant cultural and economic changes.

High demand for crops

Certain crops from the Americas became vital to European diets and economies.