European Exploration and Expansion Unit 4

The increase in trade and economic activity that occurred in Europe during the late Middle Ages and early modern period. This was fueled by population growth, leading to greater demand for goods and services.

A system where investors pool their money together to fund a company and share in the profits (or losses).

The European scramble for resources connected regions through trade networks. This exchange benefited Asian and African states in terms of economic growth but the Americas often saw their profits tied to the production of cash crops and forced labor.

The Kingdom of Kongo, located in central Africa, seized people from neighboring areas and sold them to Europeans for trade. This was fueled by European demand for slaves.

The Asante, a powerful kingdom in West Africa, already engaged in trade, capitalized on the high demand for slaves to further enhance their wealth and influence.

Vasco da Gama's invasion of Swahili Coast states in East Africa led to a reduction in trade and economic decline. This illustrates the negative impact of European colonialism on indigenous populations.

Japan's initial indifference towards European trade transformed into concern when they introduced Christianity and sought to exert influence. The Japanese response was to expel foreigners and suppress Christianity, demonstrating Japan's desire to maintain its own culture and independence.

Ming China's response to European influence involved tightening control over trade, limiting shipbuilding, and strengthening the Great Wall. This aimed to protect Chinese interests and prevent outside interference.

A system where indigenous people were forced to work for Spanish colonists in exchange for protection and a place to live. This often involved harsh treatment and abuse.

A system of forced labor in which people were considered property rather than humans. This involved the transportation of slaves from Africa to the Americas, often in brutal conditions.

A labor system in the Inca Empire that involved community service. The Spanish adopted and modified it, forcing indigenous people to work in dangerous silver mines.

A large estate, often focused on agriculture, that evolved from the encomienda system. It involved employing laborers, often indigenous people, to work on the land.

An agreement between Spain and Portugal that divided the lands of the Americas and Africa between the two countries along a line of longitude. This facilitated colonization and exploitation.

European nations sought to establish favorable trade balances by expanding their territory and exploiting their colonies, focusing on maximizing exports and minimizing imports. This economic policy aimed to accumulate wealth and power.

Portugal established trading posts throughout Southeast Asia, aiming to control the spice trade by monopolizing the routes between Malacca and Hormuz and granting licenses to other vessels.

Ferdinand Magellan, though he perished during the journey, led the first circumnavigation of the globe in 1514.

The rise of maritime empires in Europe is a result of their pursuit of new routes to Asia, driven by the desire for spices and other valuable goods. These empires expanded their territory and influence across the globe, leading to significant changes in global trade and politics.

European nations' expansion into Asia and their exploitation of colonies led to increased piracy, as the lucrative trade routes and valuable goods became targets for thieves.

The widespread use of gunpowder during European conquests led to more deaths among indigenous populations.

Peter the Great, the Tsar of Russia, embarked on a journey to Western Europe to learn about their latest innovations and progress, aiming to modernize and strengthen Russia.

The European drive for exploration was fueled by a desire to find alternative routes to Asia for trading spices and other valuable commodities, breaking the monopoly held by Italian cities.

A system of social hierarchy in colonial Latin America based on ancestry and racial mixing. It was a rigid structure with Spaniards at the top and indigenous people and enslaved Africans at the bottom.

The period from 1450 to 1750 marked significant changes in global interaction, including increased trade, exploration, colonization, and the rise of new empires.

The era of European exploration and conquest led to the establishment of colonial empires, with significant consequences for indigenous populations and the global economy.

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and ideas between the Old World (Europe, Asia, Africa) and the New World (the Americas), as a result of colonization.

The practice of forcing people to work without pay, often under harsh conditions, which was prevalent during the colonial era.

The transatlantic slave trade, a horrific chapter in human history, involved the forced transportation of millions of Africans to the Americas for slave labor.

The Indian Ocean Trade, a long-standing network of exchange between Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, continued to thrive during this period, despite European involvement.

The rise of the Ottoman Empire, a powerful Islamic state that controlled vital trade routes, had a significant impact on global politics and trade.

The rivalry between European powers intensified, with joint-stock companies playing a significant role, particularly in India. These companies, like the Dutch East India Company and the British East India Company, reduced risk for investors by sharing the costs and profits of voyages, encouraging more participation in exploration.

The British East India Company, a joint-stock company, initially focused on trade in India. However, it gradually gained political influence through treaties that allowed it to capitalize on religious tensions between Muslims and Hindus. This led to British control over India, transforming India from a trading partner into a British colony.

The Mughal Empire, a powerful empire that spanned much of the Indian subcontinent, initially limited the British East India Company's influence. However, the company's exploitation of religious tensions and strategic alliances ultimately led to the weakening and eventual decline of the Mughal Empire.

Hernán Cortés, a Spanish conquistador, used the existing rivalries and discontent among the Aztec tribute states to gain support for his conquest of Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital. However, European diseases, like smallpox, played a significant role in the Aztecs' demise, contributing to their defeat and the decline of their civilization.

Francisco Pizarro, another Spanish conquistador, copied Cortés's tactics to conquer the Inca Empire. Like Cortés, he exploited internal divisions and used European weaponry and diseases to achieve victory, leading to the collapse of the Incan Empire.

Spain and Portugal competed for control of colonies in the Americas, leading to the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. This treaty divided the newly discovered lands between them, attempting to avoid conflicts and establish clear boundaries. However, disputes and conflicts continued over time.

The discovery and conquest of the Americas by European powers led to a significant shift in global power dynamics. European powers, like Spain and Portugal, established vast empires and gained access to resources and wealth from the Americas. This expansion led to colonialism and the exploitation of native populations.