Untitled Flashcards Set

Columbus's Voyages

Between 1492 and 1504, Columbus made four voyages to the Caribbean to claim land for Spain.

Encomienda System

A system introduced by Columbus in which leading men, the encomenderos, received land and unpaid labor from Native Americans.

Arawak

A Native American tribe that was one of the early groups encountered by Spanish explorers.

Taino

An indigenous people of the Caribbean who were significantly impacted by Spanish colonization.

Requerimiento

A legal document issued in 1513 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella; it served as a justification for Spanish conquest.

Hernán Cortés

Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that resulted in the fall of the Aztec Empire.

Doña Marina

The name given to Malintzin, who became a crucial translator for Hernán Cortés.

Malintzin

A Native American girl who played a significant role as a translator and intermediary for the Spanish.

Tenochtitlán

The capital city of the Aztec Empire that Cortés captured in 1519.

Montezuma II

The last Aztec emperor, who was taken hostage by Cortés.

Caste System

A hierarchical system established by the Spanish colonists to classify people based on ancestry and social status.

Quinto Real

The royal fifth; 20 percent of wealth produced in Spanish colonies claimed by the Spanish crown.

Viceroyalties

Administrative divisions created by the Spanish crown to govern colonial lands in the Americas.

Inflation

An economic condition that raised prices and affected peasants negatively due to the influx of wealth from the Americas.

Spanish Conquests

Military campaigns conducted by Spanish explorers and conquistadors to claim and control territories in the Americas.

Tlaxcala

A group that allied with Cortés to fight against the Aztec Empire.

Potosí

A mining city in present-day Bolivia that was a major source of silver for Spanish colonization.

Spain's Colonial Economy

The economic system that developed due to the wealth extracted from the Americas, benefiting Spanish nobles.

Spanish Superiority

The belief held by Spaniards regarding their cultural and civilizational dominance over Native Americans.

Spanish Fluency

The ability of Malintzin to speak multiple languages which made her an invaluable translator and ally.

Aztec Empire

A powerful civilization in central Mexico that was ultimately defeated by Cortés and his forces.

European Disease

Illnesses like smallpox that devastated Native American populations during European colonization.

Mixed Ancestry

The result of intermarriage among Spaniards, Native Americans, and Africans, impacting social structures.

Mulattos

People of mixed Spanish and African ancestry, ranked below mestizos in the colonial caste system.

Criollos

Individuals born of Spanish parents in the colonies, who often sought greater rights and privileges.

Mestizos

People of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry, who occupied a specific role in the colonial caste system.

Indios

The term used by the Spanish to refer to indigenous peoples, considered by colonizers as 'child-like' wards.

Cortés's Alliances

Strategic partnerships formed with local rulers to facilitate the conquest of the Aztecs.

Spanish Labor Systems

Mechanisms established to demand labor and tribute from Native Americans and Africans in colonial society.

Social Hierarchy

The ranking system based on race and ancestry established by the Spanish in their colonial territories.

Peasants' Hardships

The challenges faced by rural populations in Spain due to economic changes caused by colonial wealth.

Cultural Exchange

The interaction and blending of Spanish, Native American, and African cultures during colonization.

Spanish Colonization Impact

The profound social, economic, and cultural transformations imposed by Spanish rule over indigenous populations.

King Philip II's Campaigns

Military efforts made by the king of Spain to extend Spanish influence while battling poverty at home.