This Portuguese prince who lead an extensive effort to promote seafaring expertise in the 14th century. Sent many expedition to the coast of West Africa in the 15th century, leading Portugal to discover a route around Africa, ultimately to India.

Portuguese explorer who in 1488 led the first expedition to sail around the southern tip of Africa from the Atlantic and sight the Indian Ocean.

Portuguese explorer. In 1497-1498 he led the first naval expedition from Europe to sail to India, opening an important commercial sea route.

A 1494 agreement between Portugal and Spain, declaring that newly discovered lands to the west of an imaginary line (Line of Demarcation) in the Atlantic Ocean would belong to Spain and newly discovered lands to the east of the line would belong to Portugal.

Government-chartered joint-stock company that controlled the spice trade in the East Indies.

Italian navigator who discovered the New World in the service of Spain while looking for a route to Asia

Hernando Cortes; Smallpox epidemic breaks out in Tenochtitlan, around 75-90% of population perishes before Cortes comes back; Cortes round up support of around 150,000 natives and lays siege on Tenochtitlan for 80 days, starving what's left of the inhabitants; Emperor Cuauhtemoc surrenders in August 13, 1521.

Francisco Pizarro found the empire of the Incas in the Andes mountains. Pizarro killed most of the Incas, stole many of their silver treasures and forced the remaining Incas to work in silver mines or on plantations

People of mixed Indian and European heritage, notably in Mexico.

A system whereby the Spanish crown granted the conquerors the right to forcibly employ groups of Indians; it was a disguised form of slavery.

French colony in North America, with a capital in Quebec, founded 1608. New France fell to the British in 1763.

the first permanent English settlement, founded in 1607 by the Virginia Company for economic reasons;

A religious group who wanted to purify the Church of England (Anglican Church). They came to America for religious freedom and settled Massachusetts Bay.

(1754-1763) War fought in the colonies between the English and the French for possession of the Ohio Valley area. The English won. (Part of a global battle for dominance between England and France)

Aka King Philip, Native American ruler, who in 1675 led attack on colonial villages throughout Massachusetts

A worker bound by a voluntary agreement to work for a specified period of years often in return for free passage to the New World

A three way system of trade during 1600-1800s; Europe sent Guns and other manufactured goods to Africa, Africa sent slaves to West Indies & America, America sent Raw Materials to Europe

A voyage that brought enslaved Africans across the Atlantic Ocean to North America and the West Indies; second or middle step in the Triangular Trade

The exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and technologies between the America and and the rest of the world following Columbus's voyages.

An economic system based on private ownership of capital

A business, often backed by a government charter, that sold shares to individuals to raise money for its trading enterprises and to spread the risks (and profits) among many investors.

An economic policy under which nations sought to increase their wealth and power by obtaining large amounts of gold and silver and by selling more goods than they bought