1. Latin America History
SS6H1, SS6H2, SS6H6

2. Essential Questions
How were the Europeans able to conquer the Aztecs and Incas?
What roles did Cortez, Montezuma, Pizarro and Atahualpa play in the Spanish encounter and conquest of the Aztecs and Incas?
What were the consequences of Spain’s conquest of the Aztecs and the Incas?
How did African slavery influence the development of the Americas?
What new technology, ideas and things did the Europeans introduce to Latin America in the Columbian Exchange?
How did the Columbian Exchange lead to the decline of the indigenous population, change agriculture and introduce the horse?
How did European encounters influence development in Latin America and the Caribbean?

3. Early Civilizations of Middle America
MesoAmerica- “Middle America”
Maize –Corn
Hieroglyphics –A method of writing; using signs and symbols developed by the Mayans

4. The Aztecs
Conquistadors - Spanish for conqueror. The people Spain sent to the Americas.
Chinampas -A floating garden used by the Aztecs
The text has a paragraph or two of information you can have the students read. Pages 162 to 163

5. This is where they built the capitol –Tenochtitlan.
The Aztecs were an advanced civilization in Mexico where the wandering tribes were led to Lake Texcoco.
Here a vision was fulfilled of an eagle sitting on a cactus eating a snake.
This is where they built the capitol –Tenochtitlan.
This vision makes up the coat of arms on the Mexican flag today.
Discuss the Mexican Cat.

6. Under the reign of Montezuma the Aztecs were conquered by Hernan Cortez.
Montezuma allowed Cortez into the city because his arrival corresponded to an Aztec legend.
This legend was of the return of Quetzalcoatl. (this theory is now believed to be a post conquest myth)
I have an activity I did last year with the low babies that is called Tenochtitlan Description that goes with this.

7. Cortez promised them vast riches from the conquest of Tenochtitlan.
The Spanish had armor and horses and were able to defeat the Aztecs with the help of neighboring tribes and the building of an army with the help of the Spanish forces recruited from Cuba.
The exposure to European diseases significantly decreased the Aztec population which also aided Cortez.
Cortez promised them vast riches from the conquest of Tenochtitlan.
I do have a video on the Aztecs and there are several about Cortez on United Streaming.

8. The Incas
Aqueduct –A pipe or tunnel designed to carry water from a distant source.
Quipus –An Incan method for recording trade, numbers, and other information.
Terracing –Flattening of the land for farming.
Textbook has more information about the Incas. I haven’t looked recently but you may find videos on United Streaming of Aqueducts and Terracing. Pages 163 to 165

9. The Incas were an advanced society living atop the Andes mountains in South America.
gained great power through the conquest of their neighbors
had advancements such as terracing and the movement of water through aqueducts
communicated throughout the empire using a method of tied strings called Quipus.

10. The Incan empire was conquered by Francisco Pizarro.
Pizarro was able to defeat the Incas because of timing.
There had just been a civil war between Atahualpa and his brother Huascar where Atahualpa had emerged victorious.
Atahualpa invited Pizarro into his palace and Pizarro took him captive for ransom.

11. Pizarro then killed Atahualpa once the ransom had been paid and created his capital city of Lima, Peru.
Pizarro continued to battle against the descendants of Huascar until he was eventually slain by an associate named Almagro.
As a wrap up activity, have students create a Venn Diagram comparing the Aztecs to the Incas. Everything from their inventions to how they were conquered can be placed on this diagram.

12. Review Put the following civilizations into the correct order:
Inca Maya Aztec
Where would you find these civilizations?
Which one developed hieroglyphics?
Which civilization built their main city on a lake?
Central and South America
Maya
Aztec
This is the only real time we will mention the Maya.

13. European Conquest

14. Vocabulary
Treaty of Tordesillas –Gave the Spanish control of everything West of the 50 longitude line and Portugal everything to the East (eastern Brazil)
Treaty –An agreement in writing between two or more countries.
Line of Demarcation –In this case, the 50 longitude line.
The Link has detailed info on how to better explain the Treaty of Tordesillas. It is essentially what made Brazil speak Portuguese. It also gave Portugal more influence in Latin America.

15. The Columbian Exchange In the 1500s, an exchange between the Americas and Europe.
Cons
Pros
European diseases such as measles, influenza, and smallpox.
Natives had never been exposed to these germs.
Millions died because they were not immune.
Potatoes, beans, maize, squash, tomatoes, and chocolate were sent to Europe.
Introduced sugar, wheat, Goats, pig, cattle, horses to America
Use the Colombian Exchange map activity to help students better visualize.

16. Impact of Columbian Exchange
3 major areas:
Decline of indigenous populations
Natives lack immunity to diseases
80% died as a result of European disease (smallpox, measles, influenza)
Agricultural change
The exchange led to enormous increases in food production and human populations.
Introduction of the horse
Used for transportation and labor
Changed native life style from nomads to hunting on horseback
Main form of transport until early 20th century

17. Triangle Trade Trade between Europe, the Americas, and Africa.
Merchants from Europe brought goods to trade for captured Africans in one leg.
Africa received guns and cloth.
Middle Passage- enslaved Africans were transported from Africa to the West Indies on crowded ships and traded for sugar, molasses, and other products.
Agricultural goods were sent to Europe and European colonies.
Make sure students understand the difference between the Colombian Exchange and the Triangle Trade.

18. The Influence of African Slavery
As Europe established colonies in the Americas, the need for labor in the agricultural and mining business increased.
Natives were used as slaves first, but many died of disease or escaped
Africans were used to replace slaves over time
Highly skilled farmers and metal workers
Could handle hot climate
Could not easily escape
More immune to disease
I have another powerpoint that is named “Slavery in Latin America” that goes into this further.

19. Slavery’s affect on Latin American culture:
Farming
New techniques
Traditions
Brought Carnivals
Music
Reggae and Jazz
Dance
African influence into dances like the Tango
Religion
Macumba (mixture of Catholicism and Voodoo)
I have another powerpoint that is named “Slavery in Latin America” that goes into this further.