Unit Vocabulary - Exploration

Age of Exploration: Time period during the 15th and 16th centuries when Europeans searched for new sources of wealth and for easier trade routes to China and India. Resulted in the discovery of North and South America by the Europeans

Christopher Columbus: Italian explorer working for Spain who, in 1492, crossed the Atlantic Ocean and discovered the Americas for Spain.

Amerigo Vespucci: Spanish Explorer who in 1499 became the first European to see Brazil and Explore the mouth of Amazon. He was also the first to also recognize that a “New World” had been discovered and not a westward route to Asia.

Ferdinand and Isabella : During the late 15th century, they became King and Queen of a united Spain after centuries of Islamic domination. Together, they made Spain a strong Christian nation and also provided funding to overseas exploration, notably Christopher Columbus.

Ferdinand Magellan : Spanish explorer who was the first to circumnavigate the globe.

New World: North America and South America

Old World: Europe, Africa, Asia

Northwest Passage: Mythical water route from the northeast region of North America to the Pacific Ocean. Many people during the Age of Exploration searched for this route that does not exist. However, the search resulted in the discovery of much of the northeast region of North America by the Europeans.

Columbian Exchange: The exchange of goods and other things, such as disease, from the Old World to the New World.

encomeindas: the right for conquistadors to demand labor or tribute from Native Americans in a particular area. This system led to disease, starvation, and cruel treatment, which caused a catastrophic decline in population.

Peninsulares: Top class in colonial Latin America, Spanish official sent to govern Latin American colonies. They controlled government completely. Racist social hierarchy (ranking) of Spain’s colonial empire

Creoles: In colonial Latin America, American born Spanish gentry, They owned most of the land but were treated like second class citizens, and were denied political rights.

Mulattoes: In colonial Latin America, Spanish/African who were denied basic political, economic, and social rights due to their mixed heritage

Mestizos: In colonial Latin America, Spanish/Native America who were denied basic political, economic, and social rights due to their mixed heritage.

Colony: a group of people who leave their native country to form in a new land a settlement that is either ruled by or connected with, their home nation.

Spanish Armada: Spanish navy, which was considered the most powerful in the world. It’s defeat by the British in 1588 led to England and other European countries to explorers and colonists to the new world.

Commercial Revolution: A dramatic change in business as a result of the Age of Exploration which included, inflation, capitalism, joint stock companies, and mercantilism

capitalism: Economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and distribution of goods.

Triangular Trade: A catch all phrase for the trade occurring between Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Trade goods include raw materials from the Americas, manufactured goods from Europe, and slaves from Africa.

mercantilism: Economic policy which believed a nations wealth was based on gold and silver. To build this supply, a nation would try to export more than they imported.

Middle Passage: Middle Passage is the second leg of the Triangular Trade Route. The "Middle Passage" was the journey of slave trading ships from the west coast of Africa, where the slaves were obtained, across the Atlantic, where they were sold or, in some cases, traded for goods such as molasses, which was used in the making of rum.