History of Latin AmericaMonday 2/10/13

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjhIzemLdos

John Green Crash Course video—play only to 4:30 minutes

Explains Aztec destruction

History of Latin AmericaUnit 3

SSWG7

The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Latin America.

a. Explain why the region is known as Latin America; include cultural reasons.

e. Analyze the impact of natural disasters and political instability on economic activity in Latin America.

f. Describe the various ethnic and religious groups in Latin America; include South America, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as major customs and traditions.

Latin America/Early influences Native American tribes here first

Spain & Portugal lead exploration movement -- late 1400’s Looking for gold/spices/route to Asia

Natives lived peacefully until arrival of Christopher Columbus – 1492

Other European countries will soon follow England, France

Colonization/Impact Native American destruction (1)

Most died of European diseases, such as smallpox Others were enslaved

Beginning of African slave trade to the New World (2)

Creation of new population (3) Mestizos: mixed Native American & Mexican ancestry Mulattos: mixed African & European ancestry

Exchange of plants & animals between Europe & the New World (4)

Mexico/Early influences Mexico settled by Native American tribes

Olmecs Toltecs Aztecs

Ancient civilizations contributed to Mexico’s history by: Developing calendars (1) Hieroglyphic writing system (2) Astronomy (3) Infrastructure (4)

palaces, temples, bridges, roads

Aztec Empire

1300’s--Arrive in the Valley of Mexico

Establishes capital at Tenochtitlan Legend: Driven from N. Mexico—journey will end when they

see an eagle perched on a cactus w/ a snake in its mouth

Polytheistic—religion

Political power in the hands of a monarch Most famous Aztec monarch was Montezuma

Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” Tenochtitlan: The “Venice” of the Americasof the Americas

Aztec Religion Belief in the Sun god will lead

to the Aztec destruction Sun god needed nourishment

Bloodletting & human sacrifice

If Sun god was not nourished, life would end

One day the Sun god will return

Aztec Destruction/Spanish Colonization

1519—conquistador Hernan Cortes enters the Aztec empire

Montezuma (Aztec monarch) assumes Cortes is the Sun god

Spanish see the gold & wealth of Aztec nation

Spanish defeat the Aztecs by 1520

Mexican Independence Spanish colony called New

Spain

Agriculture supports the colonial economy

New Spain becomes Mexico in 1823 Name Mexico comes from

Mexica, which was the original name of the Aztecs

South America/Incas 1471-1532-- Modern day

Peru/near Lake Titicaca Polytheistic Bureaucratic gov’t

Land of the Four Quarters Split into 4 territories

Machu Picchu 1532—Francisco Pizarro

destroyed empire

Political Problems of Latin America

Independence movements will leave countries weak

This has led to coups Coup: change in gov’t

caused by a group taking control by force

Fidel Castro Bio (4:26 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ24jmIHIUk

Fidel Castro/Cuba Found a weak gov’t in Cuba

overthrew Cuban leader Fulgencio Batista in 1959

Used guerilla warfare to overthrow gov’t Guerilla warfare:

unconventional warfare & combat w/ which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes, raids, etc.) to combat a larger & less mobile formal army

Castro continued Results of Castro’s

takeover:

Relations between the U.S. & Cuba deteriorated (1)

Bay of Pigs Cuban Missile Crisis

Castro began to receive aid from communist Soviet Union (2)

Manuel Noriega/Panama Ruled Panama 1983-1989

Career soldier Became very involved in drug

trading to the U.S. President George H.W. Bush sent

U.S. troops to Panama in December 1989

Noriega surrenders to U.S. Special Forces January 3, 1989 Sentenced to a prison in Miami Extradicted back to Panama—still in

prison there

Hugo Chavez/Venezuela “Permanent” President

People voted to abandon term-limits

Was seen as a dictator by the U.S.

Wanted Venezuela to be a socialist democracy

Died March 2013