Latin American History

From Early Empires to Conquest

Early Civilizations• Olmec (1500-400 BCE)

• Southern Mexico coastal• Mother of Central America

• Mayan (100-900 CE)• Southern Mexico, Guatemala• Calendar, concept of 0 (zero)

• Aztec (1300-1525 CE)• Central Mexico• Tenochtitlan, maize markets in huge cities

• Inca (1300-1533 CE)• Andes—Ecuador to Chile• Terrace farming, roads, earthquake resistant

buildings, Quecha language

Olmec Empire—1500-900 BCE

The Olmec

Inca (1300-1533 CE)

Machu Picchu

Mayan Empire (100-900 CE)

Mayan Ruins

Aztecs (1300-1525 CE)

Tenochtitlan—Aztec Capital

Tenochtitlan—City Map

Tenochtitlan—City Center

Aztec Sacrifice

THE EUROPEANS ARRIVEAnd then…

Questions to Consider:• On Columbus…

• Why• What was he looking for?

• 1494—Treaty of Tordesillas…• Why were all cut out but Spain and Portugal?

• How did Pedro Cabral claim Brazil?

The Methods of Conquistadores

• Hernando Cotes• Deception• Alliances of Aztec’s enemies/rivals• Fear factor• Smallpox

• Francisco Pissarro (Pizzarro???)• Deception and lies• Captured the Inca• Smallpox and the flu

The Treaty of Tordesillas

Weaknesses of the Empires• Both Aztecs and the Inca

• Lack of immunity to common European diseases—smallpox, flu, measles, plague

• Area too big for the ruler to handle• Conquered peoples treated cruelly

• Aztecs• Superstitions about the horse and armor• Spanish weapons superior in battles

• Inca• Atahualpa kidnapped; no second in command• Politics corrupt and easy to manuver

“Latinized” Culture• Spanish or Portuguese imposed• Christian religion forced by Jesuit and

Dominican missionaries• Class System enforces

• Peninsulars—European-born whites• Creoles—whites born in the New World• Mestizos—white and Indian parents• Mulattos—white and African parents• Indigenous—native peoples• Forced Africans—slaves

Slavery in Latin America• 95% of all African slaves brought to

Latin America • Most to Caribbean• 1/3 to Brazil• 5% to English colonies (13 colonies)

• Encomienda—large farm or ranch with forced indigenous laborers and the white owner living in the hacienda

Columbian Exchange

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