Latin America Review
Geographic
Features
Pre-Columbian
Civilizations
[Mesoamerica]
Includes all areas south of the United States (Mexico, Central
America, South America, Caribbean)
Andes Mountains in South America isolates people
Grasslands (Pampas and Llanos)good for farming
Rainforests in Central America and Brazil – source of oxygen and
medicines; makes transportation and communication difficult
Deforestation-trees being cut down for farmland
Amazon River-important for transportation
Many people live in higher altitude where it is cooler
Maya, Aztecs, Incas:
Advanced civilizations with well organized governments and
complex religion (polytheistic with human sacrifice)
Maya- City-states in Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula) and Central America;
Achievements- calendar, astronomy, math (concept of zero), written
language (glyphs), pyramids
Aztec- Capital city of Tenochtitlan (Mexico City), Empire built on warfare
with neighboring tribes; Achievements-calendar, engineering feats
(chinampas, causeways, aqueducts),
Inca- Empire in Andes Mountains in Peru; Achievements- roads, terrace
farming, quipus (knotted strings to keep records)
Age of
Imperialism
European conquest- conquistadors looking for “Gold, God, and
Glory”; Cortes conquered Aztecs, Pizarro conquered Incas
Effects of conquests: new foods and products[Columbian
Exchange]; diseases wiped out native population; spread of
Christian religion; cultural diffusion; increased slave trade
Policy of mercantilism- colonies to benefit Mother Country
Most of Latin America ruled by Spain and Portugal
Rigid class structure
Peninsulares (born in Europe)
Creoles (born in America)
Mixed (Mestizos and Mulattoes)
Native Americans and Africans
power held by wealthy landowners and Church
Nationalism
Independence
Post
Independence
Modern Times
Economic
Features
Famous People
Independence Movements (1803-1825)- influenced by American
and French Revolutions
Important nationalist leaders
1. Toussaint L’Ouverture- former slave who fought for
Independence of Haiti from France
2. Simon Bolivar- “The Liberator” ;Creole who led fight in north of
South America
3. Jose de San Martin- Creole who led fight in southern part of
South America
After independence many governments were military
dictatorships [caudillos]; power remained in hands of wealthy
landowners
Monroe Doctrine-issued by U.S. to prevent European interference
in Latin America
Mexican Revolution (1910)- New constitution led to greater
democracy
Cuban Revolution (1959)-Fidel Castro set up a communist
government
Communist rebellions and military dictatorships in several
countries (such as Nicaragua and El Salvador) during 1970s and
1980s
1990s saw many countries turning to democracy
Most people are poor peasants and workers
Large foreign debts
Cash crop economy- growing one main crop for sale
Most businesses owned by a small group of wealthy
NAFTA [North American Free Trade Association]- allows free
trade between Canada, United States, and Mexico
Drug trafficking a major problem in some countries
Hernan Cortes: Explorer who landed on the Mexican coast with a
small army in 1519, defeated the Aztecs two years later, and
conquered Mexico for Spain
Francisco Pizzaro : A conquistador; defeated the Incas in Peru
and claimed this area for Spain during the 1520s.
Simon Bolivar :"The Liberator." -Through his efforts, Venezuela,
Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama gained independence from
Spain in 1819.
Jose de San Martin- Through his efforts, Argentina (1816) and
Chile (1818) gained independence from Spain.
Porfirio Diaz- During the late 1800's and early 1900's Mexico's
President- His domineering ways led to a revolt against the
government in 1910, sparking the Mexican Revolution and the
beginning of democracy for Mexico.
Fidel Castro- Leader of the 1959 revolution in Cuba against the
dictatorship of Batista. Later he allied Cuba with the Soviet Union.