Culture and Context: Latin America Flashcards

1
Q

The Aztecs

A
  1. Inhabited central Mexico
  2. Most powerful group in Mesoamerica before the arrival of Cortés
  3. The Aztecs and Mexicas are two groups
  4. Best known leaders: Montezuma I, Montezuma II
  5. Capital: Tenochtitlan
  6. Highly developed, multi-class society
  7. Believed in daily sacrifice of the human heart so that the sun would shine
  8. Quetzalcoatl: the god of life; Tezcatlipoca: the god of sorcerers and young warriors; Huitzilopochtli: the god of war and the sun; Tlalok: the god of the rain; Coatlicue: the mother goddess
  9. Language: Náhuatl
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2
Q

The Mayans

A
  1. One of three most important indigenous groups of the pre-Columbian world
  2. Inhabited Yucatán in Mexico, Honduras, Belize
  3. Arithmetic, calendar, hieroglyphic writing
  4. The Popol Vuh: Mayan literary work
  5. Historic Mayan sites: Palenque, Copán, Tikal, Uxmal, Chichen Itzá
  6. Human sacrifice to appease the gods
  7. Itzamná: the supreme god; Kinich Ahau: the sun; Txchil: the moon; Chac: the rain
  8. Language: Mayan
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3
Q

The Incas

A
  1. Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile
  2. Social structure based on ayllu or clans
  3. Communal agriculture
  4. Used violence to control their subjects
  5. Famous Inca sites: Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Pisac
  6. Inti: the sun god; Viracocha: the supreme god;
  7. Not as advanced as the Aztecs and Mayans insofar as art
  8. Language: Quechua, still spoken in Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador
  9. Child and virgin sacrifice based on the agricultural cycle
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4
Q

Mexico

A
  1. Estados Unidos Mexicanos
  2. Borders Guatemala and Belize to the south
  3. 3x the size of Texas
  4. Pre-Columbian: Aztecs, center; Mayans, Yucatán; Chimichecas, north
  5. Hernán Cortés presided as Captain General
  6. 1821 Independence from Spain
  7. Agriculture, industry, mining, tourism
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5
Q

Venezuela

A
  1. North of Brazil and east of Columbia, Guyana is to its east, Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean are to its north
  2. The Arawaks and Caribes inhabited the area in pre-Columbian times
  3. First European expedition: Alonso the Ojeda and Pedro Alonso Niño
  4. Caracas founded in 1567, cocoa exports
  5. Part of the viceroyalty of Nueva Granada
  6. Audiencia of Caracas was formed in 1786
  7. 1812 independence
  8. Currency: Bolivar
  9. Petroleum-based economy
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6
Q

Ecuador

A
  1. South of Columbia, east of Peru
  2. The Pacific Ocean is to its west
  3. In pre-Columbian times, Indian tribes were conquered by the Incas, whose empire was centered in Quito
  4. Spaniards arrived in 1527. Conquered by Sebastián de Belacázar in 1533
  5. Audiencia of Quito founded in 1563
  6. Incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada
  7. After turmoil in the 18th and 19th centuries, Ecuador declared its independence from Spain
  8. Agriculture and especially bananas, petroleum
  9. Capital Quito; currency: US dollar
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7
Q

Nicaragua

A
  1. Southwest of Honduras and El Salvador
  2. Borders Costa Rica in the south
  3. In pre-Columbian times, it was inhabited by the Nahuas and other Indian groups
  4. In 1522, Gil González Dávila discovered the territory
  5. In 1524, Francisco Fernández de Córdoba began its conquest
  6. In 1527, established under the Audiencia of Guatemala
  7. In 1824, integrated with Provincias Unidas de Centroamérica
  8. First state to declare its independence in 1838
  9. Agriculture: cotton, coffee, sugar, and bananas
  10. Capital: Managua; currency córdoba
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8
Q

Puerto Rico

A
  1. An island of the Greater Antilles, southeast of US
  2. Inhabited by the Taino in pre-Columbian times
  3. Cristobal Colón arrived in 1493 on his second voyage to the Americas and named it San Juan Bautista
  4. Ponce de León lead the conquest and it remained under Spanish control until 1898
  5. Occupied by the US Army
  6. Became part of the US in 1899 after the Peace of Paris ended the Hispanic-North American war
  7. In 1950, it was set as an unincorporated US territory
  8. Capital: San Juan; currency: US dollar
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9
Q

Chile

A
  1. South of Peru, southeast of Bolivia, west of Argentina
  2. Andes Mtns run through the country
  3. Atacama Dessert in the north
  4. Inhabited by the Incas in pre-Columbian times
  5. Diego de Almagro was the first European to arrive to the territory in 1513
  6. In 1552 Pedro de Valdivia conquered the area
  7. In 1778 it was incorporated to the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata
  8. After long fights led by Bernardo O’Higgins and José de San Martín, Chile declared its independence from Spain in 1818
  9. Agricultural economy, vineyards, varied climates promote tourism
  10. Capital: Santiago; currency: Chilean peso
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10
Q

Argentina

A
  1. South of Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil; Chile to its west
  2. Inhabited by many indigenous peoples during pre-Columbian times like the Tehuelche and the Mapuche
  3. In 1516, Juan Díaz de Solís was the first European to arrive at Río de la Plata, and in 1536 Pedro de Mendoz founded Buenos Aires
  4. Not an important region until Spain established the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata in 1776
  5. Independence from Spain in 1816
  6. The Andes Mtns run through part of Argentina
  7. Economy based on livestock and petroleum
  8. Capital: Buenos Aires; currency: Argentine Peso
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11
Q

Central America

A
  1. Begins in the Tehuantepec Isthmus of Mexico and continues south to Panama
  2. The Antilles, geographically, are part of SA
  3. Gauatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama form the region
  4. Under control of the Audiencia de Guatemala in colonial times
  5. Belonged to Provincias Unidas de Centroamérica for a few months before sovereignty
  6. The Panama Canal connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
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12
Q

Panama

A
  1. North of Colombia and furthest south in SA
  2. Inhabited by the Chocó, the Chibcha, and the Caribe in pre-Colombian times
  3. In 1501 Rodrigo de Bastidas y Colón was the first European to arrive in Panama
  4. From 1513-1535, it was known as Castilla de Oro or Tierra Firme; later incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Peru and Nueva Granada
  5. In 1821, it became part of Colombia
  6. Int’l enterprises have expanded into Panama due to the US
  7. Capital: Ciudad de Panamá; currency: balboa
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13
Q

Costa Rica

A
  1. Located between Nicaragua and Panama in CA
  2. In pre-Colombian times, contact area between the Mesoamerican cultures of of the south of CA and those in the north of SA
  3. In 1523 the expedition of Gil González Dávila marked the first Euros to do so
  4. In 1523, Francisco Fernández de Córdoba began the conquest of the region
  5. Later it was under control of Audiencia de Guatemala
  6. Incorporated into the Provincias Unidas de Centroamérica in 1823
  7. 1848 independence
  8. Agriculture, fishing, coffee, bananas, pineapple, cocoa
  9. Capital: San José; currency: Costa Rican colón
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14
Q

Cuba

A
  1. One of the islands of the Greater Antilles
  2. South of FL and west of the Bahamas
  3. Indigenous groups: Taino, Guanajatabey, Ciboney
  4. In 1511, Diego Velásquez began the conquest of the island
  5. Was the last Spanish New-World colony along with PR
  6. In 1891, Cuba was occupied by the US
  7. In 1952, Fulgencia Batista est a dictatorship
  8. In 1959 Fidel Castro took control of the country
  9. Capital: Havana; currency: Cuban peso
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15
Q

Paraguay

A
  1. In SA to the S of Bolivia and E of Argentina
  2. The Paraguay River divides the country into E & W
  3. No ocean access
  4. In pre-Colombian times, Chané, Agacé, and Guaraní inhibited the area
  5. In 1524, Alejo García was the first Euro to to arrive, and in 1525, Pedro de Mendoza began colonization
  6. Between 1735 and 1756 the Guaranií rebelled against the Spaniards
  7. In 1777 it was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata
  8. Paraguay fought against Spain and Argentina, and in 1830 declared its independence
  9. Languages: Spanish and Guaraní
  10. Capital: Asunción; currency: guaraní
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16
Q

Bolivia

A
  1. In SA and S of Brazil and Peru, E of Chile, and N of Argentina and Paraguay
  2. No Ocean access
  3. In pre-Colombian times, Pukina and Aymara inhabited the area under the Incan Empire
  4. In 1530, Gonzalo and Hernando Pizarro were the first Euros to arrive while exploring Peru
  5. Important in colonial times for its silver mines in Cerro Rico in Potosí
  6. Bolivia was part of Alto Peru until it was incorporated into the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata in 1776
  7. Simón Bolívar declared Bolivia’s independence in 1825
  8. Admin capital and government: La Paz
  9. Capital: Sucre (constitutional capital); currency: boliviano
17
Q

El Salvador

A
  1. Smallest country in CA; S of Guatemala and W of Honduras
  2. In pre-Colombian times, it was inhabited by the Mayans, specifically the Pipile
  3. In 1524, Pedro de Alvarado conquered the territory and founded San Salvador, today’s capital
  4. After being part of the Audiencia de Guatemala it established itself on its own in 1786
  5. It incorporated with the Provincias Unidas de Centroamérica in 1824, and in 1841 declared its independence
  6. 1977-1979 civil war
  7. Presidential regime established in 1983
  8. Coffee is the main agricultural product
  9. Currency: Salvadoran colón
18
Q

Dominican Republic

A
  1. On the island of Santo Domingo shared with Haiti
  2. The island was called Hispaniola (La Española) when he arrived in 1492
  3. In pre-Colombian times it was inhabited by the Taino and Arawak
  4. In 1509, Nicolás de Ovando established a colony
  5. In 1511, the Audiencia of Santo Domingo was established
  6. Spaniards lost the island to Frenchmen in 1803, but recovered it in 1822
  7. In 1844, independence was declared
  8. Agriculture and sugar cane
  9. . Capital: Santo Domingo; currency Dominican peso
19
Q

Peru

A
  1. In SA to the S of Colombia and Ecuador, W of Brazil and Bolivia, and to the N of Chile. The Pacific Ocean is W. The Andes Mtns run through the country.
  2. Machu Picchu is located in Peru.
  3. In pre-Colombian times, the Incan Empire indig groups
  4. In 1524, Francisco Pizarro arrived in the area
  5. Between 1531 and 1535, the region was conquered by Pizarro
  6. In 1544, the first Viceroyalty of Peru established
  7. In 1572, the Inca Túpac Amaru rebelled against the Spaniards. In 1820, José de San Martín took control and declared independence
  8. Agriculture
  9. Capital: Lima; currency: sol; Langs: Spanish & Quechua
20
Q

South America

A
  1. Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Guyana, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina.
  2. Main rivers: Orinoco (Venezuela and Colombia)
    Paraná (Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina)
    Paraguay (Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Argentina)
    Amazon (world’s longest in Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador)
  3. The great mountain range of the Andes goes N to S and is the largest in the world.
  4. Lake Titicaca is shared by Peru and Bolivia
  5. Machu Picchu, the famous Inca site, is in Peru
21
Q

Honduras

A
  1. In CA between Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua
  2. In pre-Colombian times, it was inhabited by the Mayans.
  3. The Mayan city of Copán was in W Honduras
  4. In 1497, Yánez Pinzón and Díaz de Solís were the first Euros to arrive in Honduras
  5. The conquest of the area was led by González de Ávila and Cristóbal de Olid
  6. Was part of the Audiencia de Guatemala until 1786
  7. In 1824 incorporated into the Provincias Unidas de Centroamérica
  8. In 1838, it seceded and became independent
  9. Bananas, coffee, corn, and tobacco
  10. Capital: Tegucigalpa; currency: lempira
22
Q

Guatemala

A
  1. South of Mexico in CA
  2. Inhabited by the Maya in pre-Colombian time, in an important area of the northeast region of Petén.
  3. In 1524 Pedro de Alvarado began the area’s conquest
  4. In 1543, Guatemala already had its own gov’t
  5. The Audiencia of Guatemala was formed with jurisdiction of all CA
  6. 1821 independence, and 1821-1838 Provincias Unidas de Centroamérica
  7. Coffee, sugar cane, bananas
  8. Capital: Ciudad de Guatemala; currency: quetzal
23
Q

The Antilles

A
  1. Archipelago in the Caribbean Sea between North and South America
  2. The Greater Antilles are Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico
  3. The Lesser Antilles are the islands on the east of the Caribbean Sea, and include Guadalupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Granada, Trinidad, and others
  4. In pre-Colombian times, inhabited by the Arawak and the Caribe, and the first land Colón put his foot on in 1492
  5. Sugar production, and later slavery
  6. Multi-culti and African influence
24
Q

Uruguay

A
  1. In SA between Argentina and Brazil, in the area of Río de la Plata
  2. In pre-Colombian times, the Charrúas, who later rebelled against the Spaniards, inhabited the region along with other indigenous peoples
  3. In 1516, Juan Díaz de Solís arrived at Rio de la Plata
  4. Sebastián Gaboto founded the first settlement in 1527 which was later destroyed by the Indians
  5. In 1680, the Portuguese founded a colony that was later given to the Spanish in 1777
  6. Montevideo was occupied by the British in 1806
  7. After fighting against the Spaniards and Portuguese, Uruguay was established as a state in 1825
  8. Capital: Montevideo; currency: Uruguayan peso
25
Q

Colombia

A
  1. Northernmost country of SA, S of the Isthmus of Panama
  2. Borders Venezuela and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Ecuador and Peru on the southwest, and Brazil on the southeast
  3. The Andes Mtns run through the country
  4. ln pre-Colombian times, the Chibchas, the Muiscas. and the Quechuas inhabited the area
  5. Rodrigo de Bastidas was the first Euro to arrive in 1501
  6. 1524-1534, the Spaniards colonized the area and called it Nueva Granada
  7. In 1821, Colombian along with Ecuador and Venezuela organized under República de la Gran Colombia
  8. In 1830, with the secession of Ecuador and Venezuela, Colombia had its present-day borders
  9. Coffee, corn, rice, sugar, cotton, and bananas
  10. Capital: Santa Fe de Bogotá; currency: Colombian peso
26
Q

Spain

A
  1. In the Iberian Peninsula with 50 provinces
  2. Five main rivers: Ebro, Duero, Tajo, Guadiana, Guadalquivir
  3. Catalan in Catalonia, Galician in Galicia, Basque in Basque Country
  4. Regions: north, center, south, east, and extraterritorial possessions
  5. Capital: Madrid; currency: euro