Colonial Expansion and Columbian Exchange - AP European History
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What Old World disease was most responsible for catastrophic Indigenous population decline after 1492?
What Old World disease was most responsible for catastrophic Indigenous population decline after 1492?
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Smallpox. No immunity meant 90% mortality in some Indigenous populations.
Smallpox. No immunity meant 90% mortality in some Indigenous populations.
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What was the primary economic purpose of Spanish American silver mining at Potosí and Zacatecas?
What was the primary economic purpose of Spanish American silver mining at Potosí and Zacatecas?
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Bullion extraction to finance empire and expand global trade. Silver flowed to Europe and Asia, fueling global monetary system.
Bullion extraction to finance empire and expand global trade. Silver flowed to Europe and Asia, fueling global monetary system.
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What 1494 treaty divided non-European lands between Spain and Portugal?
What 1494 treaty divided non-European lands between Spain and Portugal?
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Treaty of Tordesillas. Divided world along meridian 370 leagues west of Cape Verde Islands.
Treaty of Tordesillas. Divided world along meridian 370 leagues west of Cape Verde Islands.
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What institution granted Spain the right to extract Indigenous labor in the Americas?
What institution granted Spain the right to extract Indigenous labor in the Americas?
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Encomienda system. Spanish colonists received Indigenous tribute and labor in exchange for Christianization.
Encomienda system. Spanish colonists received Indigenous tribute and labor in exchange for Christianization.
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What term describes the forced labor draft used in Spanish Peru, adapted from an Inca practice?
What term describes the forced labor draft used in Spanish Peru, adapted from an Inca practice?
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Mita system. Rotational forced labor system for mining, especially at Potosí silver mines.
Mita system. Rotational forced labor system for mining, especially at Potosí silver mines.
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What Spanish term refers to the large landed estates that developed in Spanish America?
What Spanish term refers to the large landed estates that developed in Spanish America?
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Hacienda. Self-sufficient agricultural estates using Indigenous or enslaved labor.
Hacienda. Self-sufficient agricultural estates using Indigenous or enslaved labor.
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What was mercantilism in early modern European imperial policy?
What was mercantilism in early modern European imperial policy?
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State-directed economy seeking bullion and a favorable balance of trade. Colonies existed to enrich mother country through controlled trade.
State-directed economy seeking bullion and a favorable balance of trade. Colonies existed to enrich mother country through controlled trade.
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Identify the correct direction: Did horses move from Europe to the Americas or from the Americas to Europe?
Identify the correct direction: Did horses move from Europe to the Americas or from the Americas to Europe?
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Europe to the Americas. Europeans introduced horses, revolutionizing Indigenous cultures.
Europe to the Americas. Europeans introduced horses, revolutionizing Indigenous cultures.
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Which option best describes the main demographic effect of the Columbian Exchange in the Americas?
Which option best describes the main demographic effect of the Columbian Exchange in the Americas?
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Mass Indigenous mortality from Eurasian diseases. Disease exchange was asymmetric, devastating Native populations.
Mass Indigenous mortality from Eurasian diseases. Disease exchange was asymmetric, devastating Native populations.
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What term describes racial and cultural mixing in the Atlantic world that produced new blended identities?
What term describes racial and cultural mixing in the Atlantic world that produced new blended identities?
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Mestizaje (racial and cultural mixing). Created complex racial hierarchies and new cultural identities.
Mestizaje (racial and cultural mixing). Created complex racial hierarchies and new cultural identities.
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What was the triangular trade system in the Atlantic world?
What was the triangular trade system in the Atlantic world?
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Europe goods to Africa; enslaved to Americas; colonial products to Europe. Three-leg Atlantic trade route maximizing profits from each voyage.
Europe goods to Africa; enslaved to Americas; colonial products to Europe. Three-leg Atlantic trade route maximizing profits from each voyage.
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What was the Middle Passage?
What was the Middle Passage?
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The transatlantic voyage carrying enslaved Africans to the Americas. Horrific conditions killed 15-20% of enslaved Africans during crossing.
The transatlantic voyage carrying enslaved Africans to the Americas. Horrific conditions killed 15-20% of enslaved Africans during crossing.
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What crop from the Americas became a key calorie source that supported European population growth?
What crop from the Americas became a key calorie source that supported European population growth?
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Potato. High-yield crop transformed European diets and demographics after 1600.
Potato. High-yield crop transformed European diets and demographics after 1600.
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Which European maritime technology most directly improved open-ocean navigation in the 15th century?
Which European maritime technology most directly improved open-ocean navigation in the 15th century?
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Caravel (with improved rigging and maneuverability). Lateen sails and smaller size enabled exploration of unknown waters.
Caravel (with improved rigging and maneuverability). Lateen sails and smaller size enabled exploration of unknown waters.
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Identify the correct direction: Did maize move from the Americas to Europe/Africa or the reverse?
Identify the correct direction: Did maize move from the Americas to Europe/Africa or the reverse?
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Americas to Europe and Africa. New World crops spread to Old World, transforming global agriculture.
Americas to Europe and Africa. New World crops spread to Old World, transforming global agriculture.
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What was the Columbian Exchange?
What was the Columbian Exchange?
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The transfer of goods, people, and diseases between Old and New Worlds after 1492. Columbus's 1492 voyage initiated unprecedented biological and cultural exchange.
The transfer of goods, people, and diseases between Old and New Worlds after 1492. Columbus's 1492 voyage initiated unprecedented biological and cultural exchange.
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Which option best matches the pattern: plantation monoculture + coerced labor + export to Europe?
Which option best matches the pattern: plantation monoculture + coerced labor + export to Europe?
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Caribbean sugar plantation economy. Sugar plantations epitomized this exploitative colonial model.
Caribbean sugar plantation economy. Sugar plantations epitomized this exploitative colonial model.
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What labor system is being described: a grant of Indigenous labor and tribute to a Spanish settler?
What labor system is being described: a grant of Indigenous labor and tribute to a Spanish settler?
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Encomienda system. Key identifier: grants of Indigenous labor to Spanish colonists.
Encomienda system. Key identifier: grants of Indigenous labor to Spanish colonists.
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What was the primary economic goal of European overseas expansion in the $15$th–$17$th centuries?
What was the primary economic goal of European overseas expansion in the $15$th–$17$th centuries?
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Acquire wealth via trade, bullion, and controlled colonial production. Mercantilism drove states to seek gold, silver, and profitable colonial goods.
Acquire wealth via trade, bullion, and controlled colonial production. Mercantilism drove states to seek gold, silver, and profitable colonial goods.
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What is mercantilism as practiced by early modern European states?
What is mercantilism as practiced by early modern European states?
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State-directed trade to maximize bullion and maintain a favorable balance. Nations hoarded gold/silver and restricted imports to achieve trade surpluses.
State-directed trade to maximize bullion and maintain a favorable balance. Nations hoarded gold/silver and restricted imports to achieve trade surpluses.
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What was the Treaty of Tordesillas ($1494$) designed to do?
What was the Treaty of Tordesillas ($1494$) designed to do?
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Divide new lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal. Drew a meridian line giving Spain most of Americas, Portugal got Brazil and Africa.
Divide new lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal. Drew a meridian line giving Spain most of Americas, Portugal got Brazil and Africa.
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What was the main technological advantage that enabled Portuguese Atlantic exploration?
What was the main technological advantage that enabled Portuguese Atlantic exploration?
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Caravel and improved navigation (compass, astrolabe, better cartography). Maneuverable ships and precise instruments enabled long ocean voyages.
Caravel and improved navigation (compass, astrolabe, better cartography). Maneuverable ships and precise instruments enabled long ocean voyages.
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What was the encomienda system in Spanish America?
What was the encomienda system in Spanish America?
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Grant of Indigenous labor/tribute to Spaniards in exchange for protection. Colonists exploited native labor while supposedly providing Christian instruction.
Grant of Indigenous labor/tribute to Spaniards in exchange for protection. Colonists exploited native labor while supposedly providing Christian instruction.
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What was the mita in Spanish Peru under colonial rule?
What was the mita in Spanish Peru under colonial rule?
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Forced rotational labor draft, especially for silver mining. Indigenous communities provided workers in shifts for mines like Potosí.
Forced rotational labor draft, especially for silver mining. Indigenous communities provided workers in shifts for mines like Potosí.
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What was the single most important American crop that supported population growth in Europe?
What was the single most important American crop that supported population growth in Europe?
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Potato. Nutritious and high-yielding crop prevented famines and boosted populations.
Potato. Nutritious and high-yielding crop prevented famines and boosted populations.
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What was the Columbian Exchange in early modern history?
What was the Columbian Exchange in early modern history?
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Transfer of crops, animals, peoples, and diseases across the Atlantic. Biological and cultural exchanges permanently transformed both hemispheres.
Transfer of crops, animals, peoples, and diseases across the Atlantic. Biological and cultural exchanges permanently transformed both hemispheres.
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Which disease most contributed to catastrophic Indigenous depopulation after $1492$?
Which disease most contributed to catastrophic Indigenous depopulation after $1492$?
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Smallpox. Native Americans lacked immunity to this Old World disease, causing 90%+ mortality.
Smallpox. Native Americans lacked immunity to this Old World disease, causing 90%+ mortality.
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Which Old World animals transformed agriculture and transport in the Americas?
Which Old World animals transformed agriculture and transport in the Americas?
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Horses and cattle. Revolutionized mobility, farming, and warfare for Indigenous peoples.
Horses and cattle. Revolutionized mobility, farming, and warfare for Indigenous peoples.
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What was the Middle Passage within the Atlantic slave trade?
What was the Middle Passage within the Atlantic slave trade?
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Forced transatlantic transport of enslaved Africans to the Americas. Horrific voyage where millions died crossing from Africa to plantation colonies.
Forced transatlantic transport of enslaved Africans to the Americas. Horrific voyage where millions died crossing from Africa to plantation colonies.
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What was the triangular trade model meant to describe?
What was the triangular trade model meant to describe?
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Europe–Africa–Americas exchange of goods, slaves, and plantation products. Ships carried manufactured goods to Africa, slaves to Americas, sugar to Europe.
Europe–Africa–Americas exchange of goods, slaves, and plantation products. Ships carried manufactured goods to Africa, slaves to Americas, sugar to Europe.
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