Las final exam
Pe0512
LatinAmericasCommonHistory.pptxLatin America’s common history
The Colonial Foundations
Pre-Columbian Era
Pre-Columbia = Pre-Columbus
Three Major Indigenous Groups
Mayan – Southern Mexico and Guatemala
Aztec - Mexico
Inca – Northern Ecuador through Peru to Southern Chile
Germs, Guns, Steel, … and Gods?
The Tordesillas Treaty
The Spanish Conquest
1521 – The Fall of the Aztec Empire
Hernan Cortes
Smallpox Outbreak assisted the Spaniards
1533 – The Fall of the Inca Empire
Francisco Pizarro
Inca Empire was in Civil War
The Maya survive
Fragmentation of groups
Geography
95% of the indigenous population died
Spanish Class System
Portuguese Colonization
Colonization as opposed to Conquest
No true native civilizations
No gold or silver; only brazilwood and later sugarcane
Escaping from Napoleon in 1807 with help from the British Navy
Latin American Independence
Bourbon reforms (political changes) beginning 1713 sought to reverse Spain’s decline in Europe and America.
Sought to promote colonial economic development to strengthen Spain’s position in Europe. Worked well as it enriched the colonies.
Called for independence came as a result of class struggle, and motivations following independence movement in North America.
Napoleon removed Ferdinand VII and (1809) placed his brother on the Spanish throne leading colonies to revolt.
Simon Bolivar
Born in Caracas in 1783, he would be figurehead in the Latin American independence movement.
Charming personality led to many followers.
Vowed in 1805 to free his homeland from Spanish rule.
July 1811 – Congress declared Venezuela independence.
1814 – Fled to Jamaica due to military losses.
1816 – Bolivar returned and began winning battles with the support of the British.
1824 – Spaniards defeated by colonist in the battle of Ayacucho.
1830 – Ecuador and Venezuela withdraws from Gran Colombia.
Post-Independence period
Economic disaster following the war for independence.
Internal fighting as to the direction of governance and levels of taxation.
Latin American economies failed to develop their own goods and services.
Maintained dependency system with Europe.
Social dynamics hindered internal dimensions. Instead of replacing a ruling elite with new class system, they were displaced by a new elite.
Industrial movements led to little domestic growth with elites dominating nearly 90 percent of the economy.
Collision of rivers
Eakin describes a “collision of rivers” to understand Latin American demographics.
Indigenous groups merged with Europeans merged with Africans.
Like three bodies of water all merging in one place: Latin America.
Led to the development of Mullattos and Mestizos—a sub-class beneath Creoles.
How much does this effect today?
What legacies remain?
Has class inequality changed?
Has economic progression changed?
What are lessons learned if any?
