Choose any primary source we have read so far in this class and explain its relevance and significance to the history of political economy Flashcards
Christopher Colombus voyage
What event marks the beginning of European maritime expansion?
Columbus’s letter
What year was Manila established, marking the first truly global economy?
1577
What currency became the world’s first global currency?
Spanish peso
What does Columbus’s letter reveal about indigenous peoples?
Early commodification of indigenous peoples and resources
What explicit promise did Columbus make regarding gold?
“As much gold as they have need of”
What explicit promise did Columbus make regarding slaves?
“As many heathen slaves as their majesties may choose to demand”
What economic system evolved from Columbus’s promises?
Encomienda system
What major exchange transformed global agriculture and demographics?
Columbian Exchange
What did the Columbian Exchange involve?
Exchange of crops, animals, and diseases between hemispheres
What justification for conquest is revealed in Columbus’s letter?
Religious-economic justification
What concept is referred to as a “violence voucher” in colonial property systems?
Property
What distinction is made in colonial property systems?
Distinction between plunder and property
What trade system began as a result of Columbus’s voyages?
Atlantic trade system
What economic systems developed from the Atlantic trade system?
Plantation economy and slave trade
Fill in the blank: Columbus’s voyage was the first step in the establishment of the first truly global economy, starting with _______.
Manila
True or False: Columbus’s letter did not mention the commodification of indigenous peoples.
False
