Unit 1: Topic 4 - Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest Flashcards
Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest
What was the Columbian Exchange?
The flow of ideas, people, plants, animals, technology, and diseases when Columbus discovered the New World.
Few examples of exchange:
From New World to Old World: Squash, Corn, Potato, Tobacco, Pineapple, and Pumpkin.
From Old World to New World: Banana, Olive, Grape, and Livestock: Cattle, Pig and Horse, and Diseases: Smallpox and Influenza.
The Columbian Exchange was given its name by Historian Alfred Crosby
What were some of the effects of the Columbian Exchange?
Horses from Europe dramatically altered the lives of the Natives by changing their methods of hunting, warfare, modes of travel, and standards of wealth and prestige.
Diseases from Europe, such as smallpox, led to a massive population decline in Native societies due to a lack of immunity to European diseases.
Maize/corn from America led to a population increase in Europe.
Gold and silver extracted from the Americas created enough surplus to allow for the development of capitalism in Europe and China, which facilitated a global trading network.
What maritime technologies made it possible for Europeans to travel to the Americas?
The caravel, first developed by the Portuguese, used a triangular lateen sail which allowed for tacking into the wind.
The astrolabe made by Muslims allowed for more accurate navigation.
Explain the role of joint-stock companies in the colonization of the Americas.
- Joint-stock companies helped make colonization possible for the English and Dutch by decreasing the risk for individuals.
- Any loss would be divided among a group rather than the responsibility of a single person.
Who conquered the Aztec and Inca Empires?
Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire.
Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire.
- both were Spanish Conquistadors
- assisted by devastation from smallpox among Natives
- made alliances with local tribes to exploit divisions
What factors made it possible for Europeans to conquer the well-established Native societies?
Factors that made it possible are:
Diseases such as smallpox (to which natives had no immunity) killed 90% of Native Americans, and as a result, Europeans were easily able to conquer them.
The introduction of cattle destroyed native vegetation, and pigs devoured Native Americans’ crops.
Technology such as guns and steel gave Europeans a strong military advantage.
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas
- A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal to divide the “New World” with a North to South line.
- Spain claimed territory west of the line, and Portugal would claim territory east of the line
