Native People of Latin America &

European Conquest

Edited by: Mrs. Polo and Ms. Jewell (Melillo M.S. 2015)

Aztecs

Location

Central Mexico - The valley of Mexico surrounded by the Sierra Madre Sentence stem: Central Mexico is surrounded by…

Culture• Preserved culture and important events

through word of mouth, memorization & writings

• People divided by classes commoners & nobles

• Sun would not rise unless given sacrifices were made to please the gods

Sentence Stem:One fact about Latin America’s culture is…

The Spanish Invasion

Video

The Mayans

LocationMayans were located in present day Guatemala, Honduras and the Yucatan Peninsula

Where were the Mayans located? Sentence Stem:Mayans were located in..

Culture• Social classes divided

into two groups – Priest & Peasants

• Cities were used for ceremonial purposes

• Populations were in small numbers due to rainforest harsh conditions

• Mayans valued physical beauty

• Long, backward, sloping forehead were prized

• Crossed-eyes were also prized as being beautiful

What two social classes were they divided into?

Why was the population small?

What are two features that they viewed as “physical beauty”?

ReligionReligious ceremonies involved several aspects: dancing, competition, dramatic performances, prayer, and sacrifice.

Do the Religious ceremonies then differ from the Religious Ceremonies today? Why or Why not?

Incas

Culture• The empire consisted

of over one million individuals, spanning a territory stretching from Ecuador to northern Chile.

• The Incas cultivated corn & potatoes, & raised llamas and alpacas for food & for labor.

What territory made up the empire?

Why and how do you think the Alpacas were used for labor?

Culture• A confederation of

tribes with a single people more or less in control

• Each of these tribes were ruled independently by a council of elders

• the tribe as a whole gave allegiance to the ruler/ "Inca.“

• Conquered people were required to pay a labor tax

1.What is a confederation?2.Who ruled the tribes?3.What did they call the rulers?4.Who was required to pay taxes?

European Explorers & Conquest• Christopher

Columbus is one of the first European explorers to reach the New World.

• He landed in the Caribbean not realizing he was in a new world instead of India (where he was aiming to go.)

• His discovery led to countries like Spain and Portugal to battle for new land.

Who was one of the first European Explorers to reach the New World?

Where was Christopher Columbus aiming to go?

Where did Christopher Columbus end up?

What did his discoveries lead to?

European Explorers & Conquest

• Spain and Portugal created an agreement known as the Treaty of Tordesillas.

• It stated anything west of the 50˚longitude was for Spain, everything to the east of the same longitude was for Portugal.

• This is why so much of Latin America speaks Spanish: more land conquered by Spain.

What agreement did Spain and Portugal create? What was its purpose?

What effect did this have on their culture?

European Explorers & Conquest

• As both Spain, Portugal, and later other Europeans came to the New World, many came in search of new wealth and resources.

• Many conquistadors (conquerors) like Hernan Cortes and Francisco Pizarro would later conquer and control the empires created by the natives.

• Natives would be forced to give up their culture and adapt to the Spanish ways of life.

What did the Europeans come to the New World in search of?

Why were the Natives forced to adapt to new Spanish ways of life?

European Explorers & Conquest• As Europeans began to arrive and

settle in the new conquered world, many would begin families with the natives of Latin America creating a new group of people: mestizos (half European, half Native).

• In other parts of Latin America where slaves from Africa were brought to the New World, again a new group was created: mulattos (half European, half African.)

Who are the Mestizos? How did they become a new group of people?

Who are the Mulattos? How did they become a new group of people?

European Explorers & Conquest

European Explorers & Conquest• For almost 400 years, Latin

America would be ruled by Europeans.

• By the 1800s, many Latin American countries would begin revolting and fighting for independence from Europe.

• Leaders like Miguel Hidalgo and Simon Bolivar would lead the revolutions for independence.

• Most of Latin America would be free by the mid-1950s.

How long was Latin America ruled by Europeans?

When did Latin American countries being fighting for independence from Europe?

What does the word “revolting” mean?

Name two leaders of the revolution for independence:

When was the majority of Latin America free?

European Explorers & Conquest• Caudillos, or military

officers, would rise to rule many Latin American countries after independence was granted.

• Much of Latin America remained poor and underdeveloped until years of fighting and revolutions ended.

• Now, much of Latin America is developing and seeing progress, but still struggle with the effects of years of civil war.

What are the Military officers called?

Who ruled the Latin American countries once they gained Independence?

What was the level of development for years to come after the revolution ended?

What is their level of development now? What does this say about their standard of living?