Spanish Speaking World Exam 1 Flashcards
Anthropophagy
cannibalism, in which one’s enemy is consumed and made one’s own
Bernal Diaz del Castillo
(1490-1584) a Spanish soldier who worked under Hernan Cortes and wrote an account of what conspired on that expedition
What expeditions was Bernal Diaz del Castillo a part of before joining Cortes?
expeditions to Tierra Firme, Cuba, and Yucatan
The Florentine Codex
A 16th C ethnographic research study in Mesoamerica by the Spanish Franciscan friar Bernardo de Sahagun. Along with some Nahua men (his students). Documents culture, religion cosmology and ritual practices, society, economics, and natural history of the Aztecs
Hacienda
An estate with a plantation, mine, or factory. Linked to international or regional markets.
Hernan Cortes
A Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that caused the fall of the Aztec Empire. Was part of the generation of Spanish colonizers who began the first phase of the Spanish colonization of the Americas
Inca
largest empire in pre-Columbian America. Administrative, political, and military center was located in Cusco in modern-day Peru
Indianos
Spaniards who had travelled to the Americas and made their fortunes in mining or agriculture. Returned to Spain to show off their wealth with large houses
Malinche
A Nahua women who acted as an interpreter for Cortes after being sold to him with 19 other women. Acted as an interpreter, advisor, mistress, and intermediary for the Spanish. Had a son by Cortes (Martin) who is considered to be one of the first Mestizos (people of mixed Indigenous and European decent)
Maya
a group of Indigenous people who lived in southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador and Honduras
Mexica
Indigenous people of the Valley of Mexico, now known as the rulers of the Aztec Empire
Montezuma
ninth ruler of the Aztecs, reigning from 1502-1520. Was killed during the initial stages of the Spanish conquest of Mexico, when Cortes and his men fought to leave the capital of Tenochtitlan
Nahuatl
the language of the Aztecs, still used today
Patron
“master” or “boss”, the owner of the hacienda,
Prester John
legendary Christian king, said to rule over a lost Christian nation, decent of the Three Magi, ruled a nation of riches, marvels, and strange creatures
Quezalcoatl
Aztec demi-god, The Plumed Serpent, who had been driven to the east, but was forecast to come back and start a golden age. Cortes was initially thought to be this demi-god
Tenochtitlan
capital city of the Aztec Empire, was a Mexica city-state on an island in Lake Texcoco in the Valley of Mexico
The Treaty of Tordesillas
signed at Tordesillas (Spain) on June 7, 1494, the Pope divided the newly discovered land between Portugal and Spain, effectively “gave” Brazil to Portugal because Europe didn’t know it was there at the time
Tlaxcala
Cortes stayed in the city of Tlaxcala for 20 days and formed an alliance with them to bring down Tenochtitlan because they were enemies, successfully added 6,000 men to his ranks
What are some incompatibilities between the Europeans and Indigenous peoples?
Monetary value vs. barter and trade, cash crops vs. sustainable farming (food), lack of immunity
Monetary value vs. barter and trade
Indigenous peoples didn’t value gold the way Europeans did, this lead to distrust between the two and the destruction of indigenous lands
Cash crops vs. sustainable farming
Europeans used Indigenous labor to plant and harvest cash crops like weed, tobacco and other things that they didn’t consider worth growing because you couldn’t eat them
(Lack of) Immunity
Europeans brought many diseases to the America’s that the indigenous did not have immunity to and were responsible for the wiping out of more than half of indigenous populations
What are some major differences between the European and indigenous peoples that weren’t too frustrating to the Europeans?
Language, religion, clothing/culture, systems of government
