Spanish Conquest Of The America's Flashcards
Name 2 major civilisations that existed in the Americas prior to European contact
The Incas and the Aztecs
Where did the Aztec’s live
Mexico
In how many generations did the Aztec civilisation rise and fall?
4
what was the main city of the Aztec civilisation?
Tenochtitlan
What was the population of Tenochtitlan at the time of the Spanish arrival?
200 000
What was at the centre of the city?
the sacred precinct
What were tributes?
payments that surrounding villagers were forced to pay the Aztecs
How was the Aztec society hierarchy arranged?
Emperor nobles warriors commoners slaves
Who was the most important God for the Aztecs?
The God of Sun and War
What was the main city of the Incas?
Cuzco
How did the Incas try to integrate different groups?
through education
How was the hierarchy of the Incas organised?
Ruler
nobles
commoners
Sapa Inca was seen as
Sun God’s representative on Earth
Did the nobles used to attempt to change the shape of their babies’ skulls
Yes
What did the Incas generally make their weapons from?
leather and wood
How did the Incas communicate across their large land?
a series of runners called chasqui
Was Quipu a communication system used by the Incas
Yes
The main crops of the Incas were wheat and maize
False
What was mit’a?
A system of compulsory labour
The state would collect and distribute crops throughout the Empire
True
Macchu Picchu was
A summer place
The most notable aspect of Inca architecture was
The stonework
The Sun God was called
Inti
What was the main reason that the Spanish conquered the Americas?
a. To expand their empire
b. To obtain wealth and power
c. To convert the people to Christianity
D. All of the above
All of the above
Why were the people of the Americas called Indians?
Colombus thought that he was in India
When did Columbus first land in the Bahamas?
October 1492
What were the Spanish hoping to find in these new lands?
Great civilisations to plunder
Encomienda was a system of slavery
True
Why did European diseases have such a catastrophic impact on the Native Americans?
The people did not have any immunity to these new diseases
smallpox was the disease that claimed most lives
True
Why did civil war break out among the Incas?
As their leaders died, there was a struggle for succession
How did the conquest change the Incas’ view of their Gods?
Many felt that their Gods had abandoned them and turned to Christianity
