Unit 10 Flashcards
(17 cards)
What were some similarities and differences among the European maritime empires?
Some similarities were how they: expanded by sea, did this for an economic gain, to exploit native population for labor, imposed taxes, and extracted wealth, and to spread religion
Differences were their: colonial administration, trade strategies, religion and where they focused their colonies
Describe new technologies that enabled European exploration within this era.
Caravel ships, magnetic compass, astrolabe, improved maps (portolan charts), gunpowder and cannons, and the printing press
What are the driving factors for European exploration:
God
Gold
Glory
Northwest Passage
How did exploration lead to conflict among European nations and monarchs? Explain one way in which the church sought to solve this conflict.
Exploration led to conflict among European nations because they were competing for land, resources, and trade routes. Countries like Spain and Portugal, and later England and France, sought to expand their influence and claim territories in the New World. This resulted in disputes over territories and trade routes. The Church played a key role in trying to solve this conflict. For example, in 1493, Pope Alexander VI issued the Papal Bull and created the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. This divided the New World between Spain and Portugal along an imaginary line, which helped ease tensions between the two countries and provide a framework for peaceful expansion.
What role does religion play in establishing colonies in the New World?
Religion played a central role in European colonization, especially for the Spanish and Portuguese, who were motivated by a desire to spread Christianity. Catholic missionaries were often sent with explorers to convert indigenous people to Christianity. The Spanish, for instance, used religious justification as a way to claim land and convert native populations through the Requerimiento, which was a document demanding that indigenous people accept Christianity and Spanish rule. The religious drive to spread Catholicism was intertwined with the quest for wealth and power in the New World.
Describe the system of mercantilism. How does mercantilism impact mother countries and their colonies?
Mercantilism was an economic system in which nations sought to accumulate wealth, particularly gold and silver, by exporting more goods than they imported. It led to the belief that colonies existed primarily to benefit the mother country. Colonies were required to trade exclusively with their mother countries, providing raw materials and resources, while the mother country supplied manufactured goods. This system made the mother country wealthier and more powerful, while often exploiting the colonies’ resources and labor.
What is the encomienda system? What were the political, social, and economic consequences of the encomienda system?
The encomienda system was a labor system where Spanish settlers were granted the right to extract forced labor from indigenous people in exchange for protection and conversion to Christianity. Politically, it gave Spanish settlers a great deal of control over indigenous populations. Socially, it created a class hierarchy where European settlers had power over native populations, leading to abuses and exploitation. Economically, it allowed the Spanish to extract wealth from the New World, but it also devastated indigenous populations through forced labor and disease.
How was the social structure of the New World changed by European interactions?
European interactions drastically reshaped the social structure of the New World. The introduction of European colonial powers led to the formation of a rigid social hierarchy based on race and ethnicity. Europeans (especially Spaniards) were at the top, followed by mixed-race groups (mestizos, mulattoes), with indigenous people and enslaved Africans at the bottom. This new social order disrupted the existing systems among indigenous peoples and introduced new forms of racial discrimination and stratification.
Describe some New World empires that existed prior to colonization.
Inca empire was established on the Andes mountains ,
The Aztec Empire, which was located in present-day Mexico and had a sophisticated social, political, and economic system, with impressive urban centers
like Tenochtitlán.
The Maya Civilization, which existed in Mesoamerica and was known for its advanced knowledge of astronomy, mathematics, and writing.
What were some staple crops of Meso and South American cultures before the encounter?
Maize (corn)
Potatoes
Beans
Squash
Chiles
Cacao (used to make chocolate
What were the economic consequences of the Columbian Exchange?
The Columbian Exchange had profound economic consequences. It facilitated the global spread of crops and animals that increased food production worldwide, which contributed to population growth in both the Old and New Worlds. It also led to the development of a global trading network, where resources and goods like sugar, tobacco, and cotton from the Americas were traded for goods from Europe and Africa, resulting in the growth of colonial economies and the rise of plantation systems.
What were the social consequences of the Columbian Exchange?
Socially, the Columbian Exchange caused significant demographic shifts. In the Americas, the exchange brought about a catastrophic decline in the indigenous population due to diseases like smallpox and measles, to which the natives had no immunity. It also contributed to the rise of slavery, particularly in the Americas, as enslaved Africans were forcibly transported to work on plantations. This reshaped societies in both the Americas and Europe.
What were some key goods traded as a result of the Columbian Exchange
Remember, this is NOT a trade route.
From the New World to the Old World: maize, potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco, cacao, beans, and turkeys.
From the Old World to the New World: horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, wheat, rice, sugar, and smallpox.
What were the driving factors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Be able to link this trade system to the Columbian Exchange.
The Transatlantic Slave Trade was driven by the demand for cheap labor in the New World, particularly on sugar, tobacco, and cotton plantations. As the European colonies in the Americas grew, the need for labor to cultivate crops like sugar led to the forced transportation of millions of Africans. This trade was linked to the Columbian Exchange because the exchange of goods (such as sugar and tobacco) required labor, and the resulting slave trade became a core part of the global economy.
How did the Transatlantic and Triangle Trades destabilize Coastal Empires in Africa.
The Transatlantic and Triangle Trades destabilized coastal empires in Africa by fostering internal conflict, disrupting traditional power structures, and causing the depopulation of certain areas due to the high demand for slaves. African leaders who were involved in the trade often raided neighboring groups to capture people for the European market, which weakened established kingdoms and created instability.
What were the reactions of China and Japan towards European traders?
China and Japan were both cautious about European traders. In China, the Ming Dynasty, under the leadership of Zheng He, initially had an outward approach to exploration but later turned inward, focusing on internal stability and limiting foreign influence. Japan initially allowed some European trade but became more isolationist under the Tokugawa Shogunate, restricting trade and foreign contact, particularly after the influence of Christianity became a concern.
Who was Zheng He and why was he significant?
Zheng He was a Chinese Muslim admiral and explorer during the Ming Dynasty, famous for leading seven major voyages through Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and East Africa. His missions aimed to display China’s power and prestige, establish trade relationships, and collect tribute from foreign lands. Zheng He’s voyages were notable for their scale and peaceful diplomatic nature. However, they were ultimately halted due to political shifts within China, and the country turned inward, leading to missed opportunities for global trade.
