Historical Figures
Sailed the ocean blue in 1492.
Christopher Columbus
Earliest known major civilization in the area. Left great stone heads and other monuments in the jungles of southeastern Mexico about 3,000 years ago.
Known as the "rubber people".
Olmecs
True or False
There were no cities in the Americas before the arrival of the Spaniards and Portuguese.
False
The spread of domesticated plants and animals on a worldwide basis after 1492.
This group of people called themselves the "Meshica"
Aztecs
Defeated the Aztecs, considered a "god" by the Aztec people.
Henan Cortes
Controlled an empire in the Andes Mountains and along the west coast of South America. Started the cultivation of potatoes and used llamas to transport goods. Also had guinea pigs in their homes.
Incas
True or False
Potatoes were first domesticated in Ireland and brought to the Americas.
False
A person with mixed African and European ancestry.
Mulatto
Many villagers of this Central American country still speak a Mayan language.
Guatemala
Ruler of the Aztecs during the time of their defeat by the Spanish empire.
Moctezuma II
Used their knowledge of astronomy and mathematics to devise calendars. Believed in human sacrifices. Also, created a complete, sophisticated system of writing.
Maya
What was the most important factor in the great decrease in Native American populations after contact with Europe.
Lack of immunity to overseas diseases.
A large estate or land holding in the countryside.
Hacienda
What crop plant created the most colonial period demand for labor, which primarily came from Africa?
Sugarcane
Portuguese explorer who organized the Spanish expedition to the East Indies from 1519 to 1522, resulting in the first circumnavigation of the Earth
Ferdinand Magellan
Capital city was Tenochtitlan. Settled in the Valley of Mexico at Lake Texcoco. Were a fierce tribe of warriors. Built huge pyramids and temples to perform sacrifices at. Defeated by the Spanish in the 1500s.
Aztecs
First Spanish settlement in the Americas was built at a place called ________________ in what is now the Dominican Republic.
Isabella
A person of mixed Indian and European ancestry.
Mestizo
In what ways were teams able to score points on the ball courts in the Mesoamerican civilizations?
Scored points by hitting the ball back and forth with their hips until one team couldn't return it
A Venezuelan military and political leader who led what are currently the countries of Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Panama to independence from the Spanish Empire.
Simon Bolivar
2 civilizations that we covered in class that performed human sacrifices because they believed they needed to keep a constant flow of blood to :
keep the sun coming up every day
to ensure enough rain for the crops
Prevent the end of the world
Aztecs and Mayans
Town in colonial period Latin America were designed so that churches and the homes of wealthy people faced a large central square called a ___________.
Plaza
A complex society with cities, a division of labor, social classes, and usually, and usually a written language.
Civilization
City whose name translates to "Old Mountain"
Machu Picchu