Exploration Terms and People Flashcards
Portolani
A descriptive atlas of the Middle Ages, giving sailing directions and providing charts showing imaginary lines to help plot a ship’s course and the location of ports and various coastal features. Problems: made on a flat scale and took no account of the curvature of the earth, made it hard to use for long overseas voyages
Conquistadors
Soldiers and explorers of the Spanish Empire or the Portugal Empire. Sailed beyond Europe to the Americas, Oceania, Africa and Asia, conquering territory and opening trade routes. Colonized much of the world for Spain and Portugal in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries
Encomienda
This system permitted the conquering Spaniards to collect tribute from the natives and use them as laborers. In turn the holders of an encomienda system were supposed to protect the natives, pay them wages and supervise their spiritual needs. Of course, the Spaniards did none of what they promised to the people
Viceroy
A governor or ruler exercising authority on behalf of a sovereign in a province or colony. They collected and augmented royal revenues, nominated lesser colonial officers, enforced laws, protected natives and forced them into Christianity, and granted encomiendas
Audiencias
Courts appointed by the king who reviewed viceroys, where Spain personally gave attention to justice. Wanted to stop abuse of power and thus gave power to Spain. Created laws for Spain and those ruled by Spain
Triangular Trade
Trade connecting Europe, Africa and the Americas that characterized new Atlantic economy. European merchant ships carried their manufactured goods to Africa where they were traded for a cargo of slaves. The slaves were then shipped to the Americas and sold. Overall boosted trade and economy and populations
Middle Passage
The journey of slaves from Africa to the Americas became known as this because it was the middle leg of the triangular trade. Hurt population in Africa, boosted economy, forced labor
Columbian Exchange
Exchange between the Americas and Europe of goods, disease and animals. Colonies started forming, increased world population, allowed countries to get new supplies. Caused technology to advance
Price Revolution
Inflation that caused a lot of major economic problems in the 16th and 17th centuries. Occurred across Europe. Wages failed to keep up with price increases, they saw their standard of living drop. Money supply decreased as gold and silver popularized (they came from the New World)
Joint-Stock Company
New form of commercial organization. Individuals could buy shares in a company and received dividends on their investment while a board of directors ran the company and made the important business decisions. Stockholders could gain/lose money, helped fund Jamestown
Mercantilism
A set of economic tendencies that came to dominate economic practices in the 17th century. The goal was to have more exports than imports and to have a lot of gold and silver
Treaty of Tordesillas
Divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Europe and the crown of Castille (Spain) split about halfway between the Cape Verde islands and the islands entered by Christopher Columbus. Eastern lands went to Portugal and western lands went to the crown. They treaty was signed by Spain and Portugal in 1494
Henry the Navigator
Beginning of the Age of Exploration with Portugal. He sponsors expeditions to the west coast of Africa, led by a desire for gold. These prove profitable as they bring back not only gold but ivory and slaves. He also funds expeditions to India and the East Indies in search of spices. They successfully fought Arab traders for control of trade routes and established trading posts, but ultimately did not have resources or desire to maintain a large overseas empire
Hernan Cortes
Arrived in Tenochtitlan (capital of Aztec Empire) in 1519. Moctezuma, the king of the empire, is initially friendly and gives Cortes and his men gifts. Cortes exploits divisions within the empire and allies with conquered peoples who are dissatisfied with Aztec rule. Cortes is help by their superior weaponry. However, the real way the Spanish conquered Tenochtitlan was disease (smallpox) that had arrived before him, and within two years Tenochtitlan falls
Christopher Columbus
Believed he could get East by going West so as to avoid Africa, and convinced Ferdinand and Isabella to fund him. He believed he reached the East Indies, not realizing it wasn’t. Eventually realizes he has come across a “New World” that is full of riches and opportunity. On his way back to Spain he stops by Portugal to brag to their king John II. John gets mad so he negotiates the Treaty of Tordesillas with Spain
