Chapter 2 Latin America History Study Guide Review

1. Criollo Someone who was born in Latin America, but had Spanish parents or grandparents

2. Hieroglyphics The Mayas and Aztecs recorded their history using signs and symbols that were part of a writing system.

3. Quipus The Incas used knotted strings on which they recorded information.

4. Aqueduct The Incas used this to carry water from a lake to fields many miles away.

5. Maize The main food and most important crop of the Mayas. Also known as corn

6. Caudillo A military officer who gained power in Latin America after independence from Spain. They were very strict leaders!

7. Census An official count of all the people in an area

8. Dictator A ruler with complete power.

9. Mestizo A person of mixed Spanish and Native American ancestry

10. Christopher Columbus Italian explorer sponsored by Spain, who landed in the West Indies (Caribbean) in 1492.

11. Francisco Pizarro Conquistador who conquered the Incas

12. Hernan Cortes Conquistador who conquered the Aztecs

13. Conquistador One of a group of conquerors who claimed and ruled land in the Americas for the Spanish government in the 1500s.

14. Where are the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayan civilizations located? Aztecs: Valley of Mexico Incas: Western Coast of South America (Andes Mountains) Mayas: Central America (Guatemala & Honduras) & Mexico (Yucatan Peninsula)

15. What are the accomplishments of the Incas, Mayas, and Aztecs? Mayas: hieroglyphics, pyramids, used zero Incas: Roads, bridges, and aqueducts Aztecs: Floating gardens, hieroglyphics, and pyramids

16. What helped the Spanish be victorious over the Aztecs? Disease wiped out many of the Aztecs Native Americans in the region resented being conquered and paying tribute to the Aztecs so they helped the Spanish fight The Spanish had horses and superior weapons

17. Spain’s two important colonies in the Americas were? New Spain (now Mexico) Peru

18. What is NAFTA? The agreement made trade easier between Mexico, the United States, and Canada North American Free Trade Agreement

19. What European colony in Latin America was the first to win independence? Haiti The slaves revolted and took control

20. What two people helped contribute to independence in South America? Jose de San Martin Simon Bolivar

21. What were the caudillos who ruled Latin America concerned about after independence? They were concerned mainly with getting rich and holding power

22. Explain the relationship with foreign companies and the economies of Latin America. Foreign companies often controlled the economies of Latin America countries They owned many farms and businesses

23. What was the main city or cities for the Aztecs, Incas, and Mayas? Aztecs: Tenochtitlan Incas: Cuzco Mayas: Copan and Tikal

24. What was the Line of Demarcation and what two countries were involved? An imaginary line that divided control in the Americas from the North to South Pole on the 50 degree West Longitude line. Spain and Portugal made the treaty Spain got everything to the west & Portugal to the east of the line

25. Who was Brazil a colony of? Portugal

26. What happened to Latin American countries when the price of oil rose in the 1980s? Economies suffered-they went in debt Borrowed money from wealthy countries (like the US)

27. What goods or animals were sent to Europe from the Americas? Maize Chocolate Potatoes

28. Who is Simon Bolivar, and what Federation was he a part of? Led Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama in their fight for independence. Made these countries join in the Gran Colombia Federation

29. What are many Latin American countries doing to improve their economies? They are joining trade organizations They are diversifying industries

Short Answer 30. By 1825, most Latin American nations had won independence from European countries. (E) 31. In 1325, the Aztecs built the city of Tenochtitlan. (A) 32. Pachacuti became ruler of the Incas in 1438. (B) 33. Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494. (C)