History of Latin America: Ancient Civilizations and European Colonization

History of Latin America: Ancient Civilizations and European Colonization

Maya Civilization Located in Central America

and southern Mexico

Maya Economy Based on trade and

agriculture

Accomplishments Architecture – step pyramid Fully developed written

language (hieroglyphs) Astronomy & Mathematics

(calendar)

Inca Civilizations At the height of its

existence the Inca Empire was the largest nation on Earth

Largest native state to have existed in the western hemisphere

Located in the Andes Mountains – from Ecuador to Chile

Inca Economy Based primarily on farming Terrace farming made agriculture in the Andes possible Very skilled artisans

Ruins at Machu Picchu show terracing

Photos by Linda Hammon

Accomplishments Advanced road system Astronomy Highly organized

government Irrigation systems System of language Domesticated the llama and

alpaca

Aztec Civilization Located in

Central and Southern Mexico

Aztec Economy Based on agriculture,

fishing, and trade Capital city

Tenochtitlan was built on an island in the middle of a lake – Now the center of modern Mexico City

Accomplishments

Credited for the discovery of chocolate– Cacao beans acquired

through trade

Advanced political system                

Colonization

• Treaty of Tordesillas (1494): Split newly discovered territory between Spain & Portugal at about 22 degrees west

What was given to Portugal?

• By the end of the 16th century, LA colonized – mostly along the coastlines

European Exploration “God, Gold, and Glory” were motivations

– Missionaries converted natives to Catholicism

– Worked natives as slaves (& imported Africans) to harvest natural resources

Columbian Exchange– Diseases wiped out many of the indigenous

Intermixing races was common

– European colonists + indigenous = mestizo

– African + indigenous = mulatto

Lasting impact of colonization Languages – Spanish & Portuguese Most Latin Americans are Christians,

mostly Roman Catholic Economy still oriented toward export Black & mulatto populations (Haiti, Brazil, &

the Dominican Republic) Mestizo populations (Mexico & El Salvador) Culture is a mix of European & native

customs, an example of…?