apwh 3 and 4

What key technologies made long-distance ocean travel possible?

Caravel, lateen sail, magnetic compass, astrolabe, improved cartography

Why was the caravel important?

Small, maneuverable ship that allowed long-distance exploration

Why was the lateen sail important?

Allowed ships to sail against the wind

Why could Portugal dominate Indian Ocean trade early on?

Advanced naval technology, cannons, strong ships, fortified ports

What type of empire did Portugal build?

Trading-post empire

What is a trading-post empire?

Control of key ports and trade routes instead of large land territories

How did Portugal attempt to control trade in the Indian Ocean?

Naval force, cannons, licensing system, control of choke points

What goods drove Indian Ocean trade?

Spices (especially pepper)

Who was Vasco da Gama and why is he important?

Portuguese explorer who reached India by sea, opening direct trade routes (first trade route connecting euro to india)

Who were Portugal’s main rivals in the Indian Ocean?

Dutch and British

Why did Portuguese dominance decline?

Competition from Dutch/British and resistance from local merchants

Why couldn’t Europeans fully control Indian Ocean trade?

Strong existing Muslim, Indian, and Asian merchant networks

What motivated European maritime exploration?

Trade, wealth, spread of Christianity, political power

How did the collapse of Mongol control affect exploration?

Made land routes unsafe, pushing Europeans toward sea routes

Why did Europeans want direct access to Asia?

To bypass Muslim middlemen and reduce costs

What did Spain encounter in the Aztec and Inca empires?

Large populations and vast silver resources

What commodity fueled Spain’s global trade?

Silver

Why was silver important globally?

Used to trade with Asia, especially China

How did European trade differ from traditional Indian Ocean trade?

Europeans used military force; Indian Ocean trade relied on cooperation

How did maritime exploration change global trade patterns?

Shifted trade from land routes to ocean-based global networks

What was the Columbian Exchange?

Transfer of plants, animals, people, and diseases between old world (afro-eurasia) and new world (americas)

What did the Americas gain from the Columbian Exchange?

Horses, cattle, pigs, wheat, disease (smallpox)

What did Afro-Eurasia gain from the Columbian Exchange?

Maize, potatoes, tomatoes, cacao, casava

What was the demographic impact of the Columbian Exchange on Native Americans?

Massive population decline due to disease

Why was the Columbian Exchange historically significant?

Connected the Eastern and Western Hemispheres permanently

What was the Atlantic economy?

Interconnected trade system linking Europe, Africa, and the Americas

What is mercantilism?

System focused on accumulating wealth through trade surpluses and colonies

What role did colonies play in mercantilism?

Supplied raw materials and served as markets for manufactured goods

What were common cash crops in the Atlantic economy?

Sugar, tobacco, cotton

Why did the Atlantic slave trade develop?

Labor shortages in the Americas and demand for plantation labor

Where did most enslaved Africans come from?

West Africa

What was the Middle Passage?

Brutal transatlantic journey enslaved Africans endured to the Americas

What were the effects of the slave trade on Africa?

Population loss, social disruption, increased warfare

How did enslaved people resist slavery?

Rebellion, escape, work slowdowns, preserving culture

Why did Europeans establish colonies in the Americas?

Economic gain, land, spread of Christianity, power

What was the encomienda system?

Spanish system forcing Native Americans to labor for colonists

How did European colonization affect Native Americans?

Disease, forced labor, loss of land and autonomy

How did colonies support European power?

Generated wealth and resources for the mother country

What was a plantation economy?

Large-scale farming system using enslaved labor for export crops

What is a joint-stock company?

A business where investors pool resources to fund overseas trade and exploration, sharing profits and risks

Why were joint-stock companies important in the Early Modern period?

They allowed Europeans to raise capital for expensive voyages without risking individual ruin

Name an example of a joint-stock company.

Dutch East India Company (VOC) or British East India Company

How did joint-stock companies support European imperial expansion?

Funded colonies, trade networks, and military ventures, enabling European dominance in Asia and the Americas

How did joint-stock companies affect global trade?

Encouraged large-scale, organized trade across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans

Peninsulares

spanish born head of colonial society

Creoles

American spaniards (can be army officers but banned from high ranks)

Mestizos

euro and native american ancestry

mulattos

euro african mixed (white and black)