Ancient Civilizations Colonization & Independence

Mayan Civilization Aztec Civilization Incan Civilization All were highly organized and extremely effective at ruling over vast areas of land & people Each religion was Polytheistic & all had a similar creation story Practiced Astronomy, developed a 365 day solar calendar Technology allowed for people to be well fed & there was an extremely divided system of labor Trade was based on goods rather than currency

Mayan civilization fell apart due to drought, war & conquest by the Aztecs Aztec (Montezuma II) were conquered & killed by Fernando Cortez in 1521 Cortez became the viceroy of New Spain, particularly Mexico Inca (Atahualpa) were conquered and killed by Francisco Pizzaro in 1533 The ancient civilizations were massacred by war, forced labor & disease at the hands of the Spanish Religious temples were torn down & replaced by Churches

The Influence of the Colonial Catholic Church Guadalajara Cathedral Guadalajara Cathedral Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe Spanish Mission Spanish Mission The Catholic Church has since been extremely influential in most of Central & South America.

In the 1500’s Spain were in competition for land & wealth by colonization with the Portuguese (monopoly) Columbus’s discovery motivated the European monarchs to expand their wealth through colonization & trade The new world had: Land Labor Cost to Spain $0.00 Gold & silver Exotic food & spices

The “Columbian Exchange”  Squash  Avocado  Peppers  Sweet Potatoes  Turkey  Pumpkin  Tobacco  Quinine  Cocoa  Pineapple  Cassava  POTATO  Peanut  TOMATO  Vanilla  MAIZE  Syphilis  Olive  COFFEE BEAN  Banana  Rice  Onion  Turnip  Honeybee  Barley  Grape  Peach  SUGAR CANE  Oats  Citrus Fruits  Pear  Wheat  HORSE  Cattle  Sheep  Pigs  Smallpox  Flu  Typhus  Measles  Malaria  Diptheria  Whooping Cough  Trinkets  Liquor  GUNS

The Colonial Class System Peninsulares Criollos Mestizos Mulattos Native Indians Black Slaves

Political Disempowerment: Spanish colonies were run by the Council of the Indies, a group appointed by the King that met in Spain and sent its directives (policies) across the Atlantic. Those directives were carried out by the viceroys, officials appointed by Spain to govern the colonies. Economic Disempowerment: Spain had the first right to colonial goods and resources. Excluding all competitors, economic policy was set for Spain’s maximum benefit.

European Empires in the Americas Viceroys would often times “bend” the kings policies to benefit themselves and the other Iberian Peninsulares. The Native populations including the Mestizos, Mulattos & Africans far outnumbered the Spanish or Portuguese.

The Enlightenment The French Revolution The American Revolution The Napoleonic Wars & Law Code