Latin America: History Vocabulary

Question 1

Aztec

Answer 1

Ancient American civilization centered around present-day Mexico City. They were conquered by the Spanish in 1521.

Question 2

Inca

Answer 2

Ancient American civilization located in the South American Andes from Ecuador to Chile. They were conquered by the Spanish in the 1530s.

Question 3

Maya

Answer 3

Ancient American civilization located in present-day Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula and northern Central America. This civilization declined before the arrival of the Spanish in America.

Question 4

Tenochtitlan

Answer 4

The capital city of Aztec. Mexico City was built on its ruins.

Question 5

Cusco (Cuzco)

Answer 5

The capital city of Inca. It’s located in present-day Peru.

Question 6

Polytheism

Answer 6

The act of believing in many gods.

Question 7

Conquistador

Answer 7

A Spanish conquerer.

Question 8

Civilization

Answer 8

An organized society where people work together for the greater good.

Question 9

Circumnavigate

Question 10

Columbian Exchange

Question 11

Glyphs (Hieroglyphs)

Question 12

Encomienda

Question 13

Encomendero

Question 14

Debt Peonage

Question 15

Social Class

Question 16

Social Pyramid

Question 17

Mestizo

Question 18

Mulatto

Question 19

Criollo

Question 20

Peninsular