First European colonization wave

Colombian exchange- The term used to describe the enormous widespread exchange of plants, animals, foods, slaves, communicable diseases, and ideas between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. destructive diseases, like smallpox depopulated many cultures, but new foods like corn boosted world populations. the council of the indies- the most important administrative section of the?Spanish Empire. it supervised all government ecclestical, , and commercial activity in the spanish colonies. The?encomienda system- a grant of authority over a population of amerindiands in spanish colonies. until the 1540s amerindian people in the spanish colonies were divided among the settlers and forced to provide them with labor or with textiles foods or other goods.