Glossary
Asante Empire
A powerful West African state that rose to prominence during the period of transoceanic interconnections, largely due to its involvement in the Atlantic slave trade.
Example:
The Asante Empire grew wealthy and powerful by trading gold and enslaved people with European merchants along the West African coast.
Aztec Empire
A powerful Mesoamerican civilization conquered by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés in the early 16th century, aided by disease and indigenous alliances.
Example:
The fall of the Aztec Empire to a small Spanish force was facilitated by the spread of smallpox and the support of rival indigenous groups.
Chattel Slavery
A system of forced labor where individuals are treated as personal property, bought and sold, and their descendants are also considered property.
Example:
Unlike earlier forms of servitude, Chattel Slavery in the Americas meant that enslaved Africans and their children were legally owned and could be inherited or sold.
Encomienda System
A Spanish colonial labor system that granted Spanish conquistadors and settlers the right to demand labor and tribute from indigenous populations in exchange for protection and Christian instruction.
Example:
Under the Encomienda System, a Spanish landowner might be granted control over a specific indigenous village, compelling its inhabitants to work on his lands.
European Maritime Empires
Overseas empires established by European states (like Portugal, Spain, Dutch, French, British) primarily through naval power and control of sea lanes.
Example:
Spain's vast European Maritime Empire stretched across the Americas, funded by silver from Potosí and controlled by its powerful navy.
European Trading Posts
Commercial centers established by European powers in Africa and Asia to facilitate trade, often without extensive territorial control.
Example:
The Portuguese established a European Trading Post in Goa, India, which served as a key hub for their spice trade in the Indian Ocean.
Hacienda System
A system of large agricultural estates in Spanish colonies, often worked by indigenous laborers, peons, or enslaved Africans, producing crops for local consumption or export.
Example:
The Hacienda System became a dominant form of land ownership in Latin America, with vast estates producing crops like sugar, wheat, or cattle.
Inca Empire
A vast South American empire in the Andes Mountains, conquered by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in the 16th century.
Example:
Despite its sophisticated road system and centralized government, the Inca Empire quickly collapsed after the capture and execution of its emperor, Atahualpa.
Indentured Servitude
A labor system where individuals agree to work for a set period (typically 4-7 years) in exchange for passage to the Americas, food, and shelter.
Example:
Many Europeans seeking new opportunities in the Americas arrived as Indentured Servants, working off their debt before gaining freedom.
Indian Ocean Trade
A vast network of sea routes connecting East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, which continued to flourish even with European entry.
Example:
Despite European attempts to dominate, the Indian Ocean Trade continued to thrive with diverse merchants exchanging goods like textiles, spices, and porcelain.
Kingdom of the Kongo
A Central African kingdom that engaged in significant trade and diplomatic relations with the Portuguese, eventually becoming deeply involved in the Atlantic slave trade.
Example:
The Kingdom of the Kongo initially welcomed Portuguese missionaries and traders, but the increasing demand for enslaved people eventually destabilized the kingdom.
Middle Passage
The brutal sea voyage that forcibly transported millions of enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to the Americas as part of the Atlantic slave trade.
Example:
The horrific conditions of the Middle Passage resulted in the deaths of millions of Africans due to disease, starvation, and violence.
Mit'a
An Inca labor system adapted by the Spanish colonizers, forcing indigenous Andean people to work in mines, particularly for silver extraction.
Example:
The Spanish exploited the traditional Mit'a system to force thousands of indigenous laborers into the dangerous silver mines of Potosí.
Plantation Economy
An economic system based on large-scale agricultural production, typically of cash crops like sugar, tobacco, or cotton, relying heavily on enslaved labor.
Example:
The Caribbean islands developed a Plantation Economy centered on sugar cultivation, which fueled the massive demand for enslaved African labor.
Potosi
A major silver mining city in present-day Bolivia, which became one of the largest cities in the Americas due to its immense silver production under Spanish colonial rule.
Example:
The silver extracted from the mines of Potosi fueled the Spanish economy and had a profound impact on global trade networks.
Seven Years’ War
A global conflict (1756-1763) involving major European powers, fought in Europe, the Americas (French and Indian War), and Asia, resulting in significant territorial changes.
Example:
Britain's victory in the Seven Years’ War led to its dominance in North America and India, significantly weakening French colonial power.
Trading Post Cities
Coastal settlements established by European powers primarily for commercial purposes, serving as bases for trade and sometimes imperial administration.
Example:
Macau, established by the Portuguese, functioned as a crucial Trading Post City for European access to Chinese goods.
Treaty of Tordesillas
A 1494 agreement between Spain and Portugal, brokered by the Pope, that divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between them.
Example:
The Treaty of Tordesillas famously drew a line down the Atlantic, granting Portugal control over Brazil and Spain the rest of the Americas.