TRADITIONAL LATIN AMERICA REVIEW SHEET
Chapter 20 Section 3
Early Civilizations
Maya
Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Aztec
Central Mexico
Inca
Andes Mountains, Peru
City-states had their own
king
One ruler chosen by priests
Emperor owned all the
wealth of the empire
Achievements
Raised planting beds with
drainage channels
Written language
Created floating islands on
which to farm
Written language
Religion
Polytheistic; believed the
gods could control the
forces of nature
Polytheistic; believed the
gods could control the
forces of nature
Built an elaborate system
of roads allowing chasqui
to send messages
throughout the empire
Polytheistic; believed the
gods could control the
forces of nature
Archaeologists are not
entire sure what happened
to cause their decline
A legend makes it easier
for Cortes to conquer
Location
(Be specific!)
Government
Decline
Empire was too big
Civil war broke out
Pizarro takes advantage
and conquers
Define
Ancient civilization in Mexico
Olmec
Ancient civilization in Mexico
Toltec
Corn; it was the key to Aztec and Maya prosperity
Maize
Knotted rope used to keep records and accounts by the Inca
Quipu
Messenger runner for the Inca empire
Chasqui
Chapter 21 Section 1
Europe’s Colonies in the Americas
Five countries with most of the colonies in the America’s
1. Spain
3. England
2. Portugal
5. Holland
4. France
1
Define/Identify
Spanish conqueror that gained great riches from the Americas
Conquistador
Spanish conqueror that conquered the Aztec
Cortés
First explorer to cross Panama and go to the Pacific Ocean
Balboa
Explorer that sailed around Cape Horn
Magellan
Appointed by Spanish king to rule the colonies in the New World
Viceroy
Large, self-sufficient plantation that usually produced a cash crop
Haciendas
Council established by Spain to govern towns in colonies
Cabildo
Portuguese owners of large tracks of land in Brazil
Donatario
People, animals or plant life native to an area
Indigenous
Cash crop
Encomienda
system
Crops that yield a high profit margin because they can only be grown in certain climates
(ex. cotton, tobacco, coffee, sugar cane)
Large land owners were supposed to take care of the people on their land and ask for
taxes or labor in return. This leads to Spain abolishing slavery
Explain
Mercantilism
 Definition – Colonies make money for parent country by increasing exports
 Goal – make money
 3 ways goal was achieved
- Colonies supplied the parent country with raw materials
- Colonies served as a market for finished products
- Precious metals and jewels were mined
2
Explain
Colombian Exchange
The global exchange of people, ideas, and goods throughout the world
Chapter 21 Section 2
Patterns of Life
Identify and define classes in the colonial social structure from most powerful to least
1
Peninsulares – Born in Spain, these people were sent to the colonies to rule;
They included viceroys, & high government/church officials
2
Creoles – Descendants of the Spanish settlers, they had the same rights as
peninsulares, but were not appointed to high government positions
=
Mestizos – People of mixed Indian & European descent that eventually
became the majority, they were shop owners, artisans, farmers &
overseers
Native Americans – The people native to the area, they worked on
plantations owned by peninsulares & creoles, or they lived in villages
raising crops on lands they had in common
Free Blacks – Both Spain & Portugal allowed slaves to buy freedom,
some freed in their master’s will. Most became farm workers &
laborers; some became skilled tradesmen
Slaves – Some Native Americans, but mostly African, Slaves were
property, but could marry, own property, & buy their freedom
(unlike British slaves)
3
4
5
6
What was the role of the Catholic Church? What role did it play? (Including missionaries/missions)?
The Church controlled many aspects of colonial life (schools, health care, etc.)
Additionally, the Church protected Native Americans from slavery, but required them to convert
Chapter 22 Section 3
Liberator
Winning Independence
Country
Haiti
Toussaint
L’Ouverture
Gained Independence
from…
France
Description of Struggle
Rebels drove all foreigners out, but
Napoleon wanted the rich sugar
plantations back and took control;
eventually Haiti pushed them out
3
Liberator
Country
Venezuela & Peru
Gained Independence
from…
Spain
Mexico
Spain
Brazil
Portugal
Simon
Bolivar
Miguel
Hidalgo &
Jose
Morelos
Pedro
Description of Struggle
It was a long and difficult struggle
against the peninsulares and the rough
terrain, but eventually Spain was
pushed out
As they pushed the Spanish out, took
land and gave it to poor – Creoles not
happy; Hidalgo captured, then Morelos
captured; eventually won independence
King of Portugal gave Brazil to son
Pedro to make himself emperor; later,
Brazil overthrew emperor and
established republic
What are the reasons the following groups wanted independence?
Creoles
Indians (Native Americans)
Led many wars of independence because if the
They wanted to get even for the Spanish taking
Peninsulares left, they would be in charge
their land
Mestizos
They hoped it would improve their status in
society
Slaves
Hoped they would gain their freedom and slavery
would be abolished
Chapter 21 Section 4
The New Republics
Identify
Military strongmen who ruled as a dictator
Caudillo
A small elite group of people that possess the power in government
Oligarchy
What problems (obstacles) did Latin American countries face after independence?
Geography, the old social structure, and a lack of experience with self-rule were a barrier to unity
How did the goals of conservatives and liberals differ?
Conservative
Little change
No freedom of speech and press
Wealthy
Liberal
A lot of change
Freedom of speech and press
Poor
How did foreign debt lead to economic imperialism in Latin America?
Latin American countries borrowed money they could not pay back, which caused countries to take
control of aspects of Latin American economies
Foreign countries continued to have influence in Latin American countries
4