History of Latin America Monday 2/10/13   John Green Crash Course video—play only to 4:30 minutes  Explains Aztec destruction

History of Latin America Unit 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” of 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  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)  jmIHIUk jmIHIUk

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 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