Latin AmericaHighlightsUnit IV, Section 2

Objectives

•Define the historical and cultural importance of the Maya, Aztec, and Inca

peoples.•Determine the impact of the Spanish on

the development of post-Columbia Latin America.

•Outline the modern challenges facing the Latin American region including illegal drugs, immigration, deforestation, etc.

•Determine the steps taken to preserve indigenous peoples.

Geographic Features

The Amazon River

•4000 miles long▫Beginning in the Andes Mountains▫1,100 tributaries

•1 to 6 miles wide▫Up to 20 miles wide during flooding

•Largest river by volume▫25% of freshwater that is ocean bound

•Effects nearly 200 miles of ocean water•Once flowed into the Pacific Ocean

▫History of changing course

The Amazonian Rainforest

• 2.7 million square miles• More than half of the

remain rainforests• 40,000 species of plants,

2.5 million species of insects, 300 mammal species, 900 species of reps. and amph. & 205 bird species

• 170 different Amazonian indigenous languages+

• Dense forest of broad leafed trees▫10 minutes till rainfall

reaches the forest floor

Rio Grande River

•1,896 miles long▫Flows from Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico▫Spanish for “Big River”

•Heavy consumption/use down to 20% of historic output▫Farming irrigation▫Hydroelectric power dams

•Natural border between the US and Mexico▫Border/immigration security

Atacama Desert• 600 miles long

▫Lies between Pacific Ocean & the Andes Mt.

• .59 inches of rain annually▫Little to no significant rainfall

from 1570-1971▫2011 rare snow storm (31

inches)▫Most precipitation comes from

ocean fog• Used for mining, off-road

sports, and Mars rover training

The Andes

•4,000 miles long, heights of up to 13,000 ft▫Highest peak, Aconcagua (22,841 ft high)

•Created by the collision of the Nazca & South American plate▫Active seismically (earthquakes &

volcanoes)•Home to Lake Titicaca

▫12,507 feet above sea level

Caribbean Islands• Named for the Carib Indians • 700 islands

▫2% inhabitable• Sub/Tropical climate

▫Wet & dry seasons• Most inhabitants are descendents of African slaves

▫Mixture of cultures▫Creole & Voodoo

• Cuba, the Dominican Republic, & Haiti largest by population

• Major hub for tourism

Historical Outline

The Maya

•Yucatan Peninsula•250-900 C.E.

▫Classical Period•City-State System

▫Small kingdoms•Urban Planning

▫Open plazas & cisterns▫Royal/religious complexes, observatories, &

ball courts▫Pyramid temples

…Continued•Only known writing system in Mesoamerica

▫Hieroglyphs•Expert mathematicians and astronomers•Polytheistic faith

▫Some use of human sacrifice•Agriculture based on maize

▫Exploitive of natural food sources•Decline Theories

▫Over population, invasion, revolt, or trade collapse

▫Disaster, disease, or climate change

The Aztec• 14th thru 16th century C.E.• Empire based in Tenochtitlan

▫ Influence through trade and military campaign▫System of tribute states▫Highly trained warrior class▫Zenith in 1519

• Economy▫Land owned by noble classes

Rented or serf farmed▫Monetary system based on cacao bean or cotton

cloth

…Continued• Agriculture based on

chinampas construction▫Small plots of land constructed

in marshes/lakes▫Maize, squash, pumpkin,

beans, turkey, and dogs• Religion

▫Similar use of human sacrifice in worship as Maya

▫Pantheon of gods and goddess Fierce and often times blood

thirsty

Montezuma II•1466-1520•9th Ruler of Tenochtitlan (1502-1520)•Family

▫Queens Tlapalizquixochtzin & Teotlalco▫Daughter Dona Isabel become head of New

Spanish Nobility•Monitored Spanish explorations since 1517•1519

▫Welcomed Spanish into the capital Honored guests for months

▫Pressured by nobles to exile Spanish Aztec revolt after the Massacre in the Great

Temple, no true cause known

…Continued

•Montezuma eventually held prisoner by the Spanish▫Safety measure against further attacks

• July 1, 1520▫Montezuma killed

Murdered by the Spanish or by his own people•Replaced by his brother Cuitlahuac

▫Died of smallpox•Empire passes from his nephew then his sons

▫Nephew killed by the Spanish▫Sons murdered by their own courtiers

•Empire finally collapses in 1521

The Inca

•1438-1572•2500 miles long, encompassing 10 million

people▫Largest empire on Earth at the time

•Cuzco▫Capital of the empire▫Founded by Emperor Pachacuti

Instituted emperor worship Furthered worship of sun god Inti Began Incan lust for gold

Continued•Land Management

▫Common land held in thirds Divided between the emperor, the gods, and the

people▫An emperors land followed him after death

A new ruler needed to gain his own possessions•No writing

▫Quipu system of knotted/colored rope•Agriculture based around corn, the potato,

and llama/alpaca herds•Highly advanced highway system

▫1500 miles long w/ rest areas▫Messages took one week to travel from end to

end

Atahualpa

•1502-1533•Son of King Huayna Capac

▫Kingdom divided in 1526 after his death▫Bloody civil war between Atahualpa and his

brother Huascar•Victory achieved in 1532•Spanish land on the West Coast of SA in

1532▫Not an initial concern to the Inca▫Atahualpa outwitted by the Spanish and

captured

…Continued• Held for ransom

▫Aware of Spanish love of gold▫Filled half a room with gold; two rooms with

silver Wealth poured in from across the empire Loss of cultural artistic pieces

• Continued to rule while in prison▫Commanded no attempt to rescue him

• Rumor of an army approaching to rescue him▫Spanish panicked and strangled Atahualpa

• Line of puppet kings established by the Spanish▫Royal Inca line ended in 1572

Spanish Conquest•Columbus lands in 1492

▫Followed by three other voyages•1500’s

▫Expansion of Spanish incursions across the region (Conquistadors)

▫Conquest of native tribes and civilizations Aztecs fall in 1521 The Inca collapse in 1572

▫Advanced weapons, armor, and use of horses

Spanish Explorers• Ponce de Leon (1474-1521)

▫First governor of Puerto Rico/Searched for the Fountain of Youth

• Vazquez de Coronado (1510-1554)▫Lead expedition from Mexico City to

modern Kansas/Searched for the Seven Cities of Gold

• Hernan Cortes (1485-1547)▫Lead successful expedition against the

Aztecs• Francisco Pizarro (1471-1541)

▫Successfully conquered the Inca▫Assisted by his brothers Juan, Gonzalo,

& Hernando

The Columbian Exchange•Disease

▫Smallpox, measles, influenza, & typhus

▫Returned to Europe with syphilis• Influence of and forced

conversion of Catholicism•Native Exploitation

▫Slave labor of native populations Encomiendas- Royal grants to

enslave natives▫Pillaging of gold for imperial

coffers▫Loss of native culture

New Spain•Native populations decimated by disease,

warfare, and forced labor•Caste system

▫European intermarriage between races leads to a social hierarchy

▫Location of birth and lineage established one’s place

▫Mestizo (mixed/half-breed) citizens taxed by Spanish crown

New Spain•Native populations decimated by disease,

warfare, and forced labor•Caste system

▫European intermarriage between races leads to a social hierarchy

▫Location of birth and lineage established one’s place

▫Mestizo (mixed/half-breed) citizens taxed by Spanish crown

•Expansion of industry and urban centers across the New World

•Firm hold by Spanish crown by the 17th century

Other European Influences• Portugal

▫ Brazil• The Dutch

▫ Dutch West Indies (Carib Islands) Aruba & the Dutch Antilles

• Britain ▫ British West Indies (Carib Islands)

Jamaica & the Bahamas ▫ Belize

• France▫ French West Indies (Carib Islands)

Haiti & Martinique▫ French Guiana

The Modern Age• Haitian Revolution, 1791-1803

▫Slave uprising against French colonials▫Led by Toussaint l’Overture

• Brazil▫Established separate monarchy in 1822

• The Spanish New World▫Little respect for Creole rights/Americans not

Spaniards▫Economic limitations▫Successes of other continental revolts▫Pushes for independence throughout the 19th

century

…Continued

• The Monroe Doctrine▫American support for hemispheric independence▫No longer would Europe be allowed to colonize the

West• Haven for escaped Nazi officials after WWII

▫App. 9,000 • Territorial independence gained throughout the

region after WWII▫Allegiances to the British and Dutch monarchy still

strong• European control still maintained over Caribbean

Islands

Argentina & the Perons

• Juan Peron (1895-1974)▫Trained for a military career▫Traveled to Italy to observe rise of Fascism▫Returned to Argentina in 1941

Part of the United Officers Group coup Became a leading member of the new Argentina

▫Elected president in 1946 Instituted the “Third Way”, neither capitalist or

communist Limited civil liberties Aided by his popular wife, Eva (1919-1952) Exiled to Madrid but returned to become

president again in 1973

Cuba•Native inhabitants known as the

Arawak Indians•Spanish settlement begins in

1511•1800’s saw the rise of a booming

sugar cane industry▫West African slave labor

• Independence▫1867-1878, Civil unrest & war▫Slavery abolished in 1886▫Spanish rule ends in 1898

Us involvement after the Maine sinks in Havana

…Continued•US influence during the early half of the

20th century▫The Platt Amendment

Allowed the US to militarily intervene if deemed necessary

▫US backed dictatorship of Batista 1940-1944, 1952-1959

•Rise of the Communist party▫Revolution from 1953-1959▫Rise of Castro, pull back of the US▫Tensions during the Cold War

Cuban Missile Crisis•Relaxing tensions under the Obama

administration

Mexico•Early empires of Maya and Aztecs•Conquest by the Spanish from 1517-1521•1808- Occupied by France after Napoleon

ousts the Spanish monarch• 1810- Father Hidalgo calls for Mexican

independence•1821- Plan of Iguala separates Mexico from

Spain▫August 1821, Treaty of Cordoba

•Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna▫President of Mexico▫Fought to maintain Texas ▫Mexican American War

Continued…• November 20, 1910

▫Mexican Revolution to overthrow established dictatorship

• WWI▫Remains neutral▫Goaded by Germany to enter the war

• 1946▫First civilian president since 1911 elected

• 1985▫Mexico City earthquake▫10,000 dead

• Today▫Facing issues with drug/cartel wars▫ Immigration and economic issues

Tensions with the US

The Issues of Today

Agriculture•Diverse climate regions

allow for varied agricultural opportunities▫Tropics- Nuts, avocados,

pineapples, cocoa, & coffee, cotton, rice

▫Temperate Zones- Corn, soy beans, cattle ranching

▫Higher Latitudes- Potatoes, quinoa, llamas, sheep, alpacas, vicunas

Urbanization

• Massive urban growth over the last half century▫By 2050 90% of population will be urban

• Questions of providing proper housing▫Build out or up?

• Social division apparent in social fabric▫ Inequality and dangerous cities

• Largest urban centers▫Rio/Sao Paolo- 45 million▫Mexico City- 28 million▫Bogota- 15 million▫Buenos Aires- 13 million▫Lima- 10 million

Regional Development• Goes hand-in-hand with urbanization• Problems

▫Massive poverty/improper housing▫ Informal economy

Lack of welfare Lack of opportunities

▫Territorial claims of organized crime rings• Benefits

▫Active and young population▫Region reaching a point of transition

Willingness to develop and improve

Deforestation

• Removal of forests through cutting or slash and burning practices

• Main reason: agricultural needs▫Cattle ranching

• Issues▫Lack of trees causes erosion and

loss of soil layers▫Loss of natural habitat ▫Endangerment of

native/marketable tree species▫Release of greenhouse gases

Disaster Preparedness• Risks

▫Earthquakes, hurricanes, & volcanic activity • Issues

▫ Improper construction Weak/non-zoned buildings Improper techniques and practices

▫Providing for/aiding victims of events• Recent Disasters

▫Mexico City earthquake (1985)▫Montserrat volcanic eruption (1997), Plymouth

abandoned ▫Haitian earthquake (2010), 250,000 dead

Immigration & Drug Wars

• Immigration▫Refugee crisis from central America

Fleeing drug wars, intolerant governments Looking for a better life

▫Tensions between the US and Mexico• Drugs

▫Government backing of drug cartels Power and influence Corruption Monetary influencer

▫Violence Kidnappings, murders, gun violence, & human trafficking

▫American aid and support

Preserving the Indigenous• Decline in indigenous culture after

Columbus• Eek out an existence at the edge of society

▫ Shanty towns/slums▫ Primitive villages

• Governmental protection of “Lost Tribes”▫ Little to no contact with outside world▫ Loss of native homelands due to drug wars,

deforestation, etc.▫ Coming into conflict with local villages over

supplies and needs• Political activism and pushing against

“elite” white society ▫ Preserving native culture▫ Fighting for rights

Pope Francis

•Born 1936, Buenos Aires, Argentina▫Jorge Mario Bergoglio

•Entered priesthood in 1969▫Ordained as Cardinal in 2001▫Elected pope March 13, 2013 (First SA

Pope)•The “People’s Pope”

▫Less formal/ritualistic than predecessors▫Massive crowd appeal▫Ushered in changing approaches to the

Church