1. History of Latin America Natives European Conquest Independence

2. Native Empires  Before European explorers came to the Americas, 3 empires flourished in what we now call Latin America  Maya  Inca  Aztecs

3. Mayan Civilization

4. The Maya  250 AD – 900 AD in Southern Mexico & Northern Central America  Many cities  Greatest = Tikal (Guatemala)  Pyramid temples  priests & nobles ruled  ruins of over 40 found, many are tourist attractions today  Economy based on agriculture & trade  Contributions  Math, calendars, astronomy  Glyphs: picture writing on stones ▪ Wrote their history & honored gods

5. Mayan Pyramids

6. Aztec Empire

7. The Aztec  Arose in 1300s AD in Central Mexico  Capital was Tenochtitlan on island in lake (today Mexico City)  Developed class system, emperor & military leaders ruled  Farming: corn, tomatoes, cacao beans “food of the gods” (chocolate!)  Spanish slaughtered Aztecs

8. Human Sacrifice

9. Aztec Calendar

10. Drama Mask

11. Mexican Coat of Arms

12. Inca EmpireInca God

13. The Inca  From Ecuador-Central Chile, same time as Aztecs  Capital - Cuzco (Peru),  Machu Picchu is a huge tourist attraction today  Built enormous temples, fortresses, roads into mountains  Irrigation systems  Many killed by Spanish

14. European Conquest  Europeans explored the Americas & colonized much of it  Spain & Portugal first  Britain, France, Netherlands later  “Conquistadors” (conquerors) destroyed Aztec (Hernan Cortes) & Inca (Francisco Pizarro)  Spain took over the most territory  Portugal settled in Brazil

15. “Changing” Culture  European missionaries converted (forced?) Native Americans to Catholicism  Catholic is main religion in Latin America today  Taught European languages  Spanish & Portuguese are main languages throughout Latin America  Some English & French  Set up schools & hospitals

16. Spanish Colonial Society  See Chapter 8 Section 1 of World Civ Book