Chapter 2
Latin America
Shaped By Its History

Vocabulary

aqueduct		A pipe or channel used to carry water from a distant source to dry areas
campesino		A poor Latin American farmer
caudillo		A military officer who rules strictly
conquistador		16th-century conquerors working for the Spanish government who were in charge of gaining land and wealth in the Americas
criollo		A person born of Spanish parents born outside Spain; often among the best-educated and wealthiest people in he Spanish colonies
economy		The ways that goods and services are produced and made available to people
encomienda		A right that was granted by the Spanish government to its settlers in the Americas to demand taxes or labor from native Americans
hacienda		Plantation owned by the Spanish settlers of the Catholic Church in Spanish America
hieroglyphics		A system of writing using signs and symbols, used by the Maya and other cultures
invest		To spend money to earn more money
Line of Demarcation		An imaginary line from the North Pole to the South Pole (at about 50° longitude) set forth in the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas; Spain had the right to settle and trade west of the line and Portugal had the right to settle and trade east of the line
maize		Both the plant and the kernel of corn
mestizo		A person of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry
quipu		A knotted string used by Incan government officials and traders for record keeping
revolution		A political movement in which people overthrow the existing government and set up another
rural		Having to do with the countryside
treaty		An agreement in writing made between two or more countries
Treaty of Tordesillas		The 1494 treaty setting up the Line of Demarcation, giving Spain the right to settle and trade west of the line and Portugal the same rights east of the line.
urban		Having to do with cities

Key People and Places

Agustin de Iturbide Brazil Christopher Columbus Copán Cuzco Dom Pedro Francisco Pizarro Hernan Cortés José de San Martin

Malinche Miguel Hidalgo Moctezuma Pachacuti Simón Bolivar Tenochtitlán Tikal Topa Inca Valley of Mexico

Sample Essay Questions

1. Compare the falls of Mayan, Aztec, and Incan civilizations. How were their falls similar? How were they different? Give an example of how an aspect of each civilization survives today.

The reason for the fall of the Mayan civilization is unknown. The Incan and Aztec civilizations were conquered by the Spaniards. Today, millions of Mayas still live in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Many Aztec foods are still eaten today. Many descendants of the Incas speak Quechua, the Incan language.

2. List and explain at least two reasons why a relatively small band of Spanish soldiers were able to conquer much of Latin America and the people who lived there.

Your answer should list two of the following three reasons. The Spanish had guns, cannons, and horses - things the native Americans did not have. the Spanish carried diseases that had the effect of wiping out many people. Finally, Spaniards had help from some native Americans. These Native Americans were angry with other Native Americans because of local rivalries.

3. What world events inspired Haiti's fight for independence? What effect do you think Haiti's fight had on other parts of Latin America?

The war the colonists of North America fought with Britain and the uprising of the French people against their royal rulers inspired Haiti's fight for independence. Haiti's fight probably inspired other people in Latin America to want their independence.

4. Describe how foreign investment affected Latin America in the early to mid 1900s. How did foreign investments in Latin America change later in the century?

In the early to mid 1900s, foreign investment controlled or affected most of the business in Latin America. Later in the century, Latin American nations tried to limit foreign investment.