Central Mexico is surrounded by the Sierra Madre mountains. The Aztecs divided their society into nobles and commoners and believed sacrifices were needed to please the gods. Mayans were located in present-day Guatemala, Honduras, and the Yucatan Peninsula. Their society was divided into priests and peasants and populations were small due to harsh rainforest conditions. Christopher Columbus arrived in the Caribbean in 1492, believing he had reached India, which led Spain and Portugal to battle for land in the New World.

1. Native People of
Latin America
& European
Conquest
Edited by: Mrs. Polo and Ms. Jewell
(Melillo M.S. 2015)

2. Aztecs

3. Location
Central Mexico
- The valley of
Mexico
surrounded by
the Sierra Madre
Sentence stem: Central
Mexico is surrounded by…

4. Culture
• Preserved culture and important events
through word of mouth, memorization &
writings
• People divided by classes commoners &
nobles
• Sun would not rise unless given sacrifices
were made to please the gods
Sentence Stem:
One fact about Latin America’s culture is…

5. The Spanish Invasion
Video

6. The Mayans

7. Location
Mayans were
located in
present day
Guatemala,
Honduras and
the Yucatan
Peninsula
Where were the Mayans
located? Sentence Stem:
Mayans were located in..

8. Culture• Social classes divided
into two groups – Priest
& Peasants
• Cities were used for
ceremonial purposes
• Populations were in
small numbers due to
rainforest harsh
conditions
• Mayans valued physical
beauty
• Long, backward, sloping
forehead were prized
• Crossed-eyes were also
prized as being beautiful
What two social
classes were
they divided
into?
Why was the
population
small?
What are two
features that
they viewed as
“physical
beauty”?

9. Religion
Religious
ceremonies
involved several
aspects:
dancing,
competition,
dramatic
performances,
prayer, and
sacrifice.
Do the Religious
ceremonies then differ
from the Religious
Ceremonies today?
Why or Why not?

10. Incas

11. Culture• The empire
consisted of over
one million
individuals,
spanning a
territory
stretching from
Ecuador to
northern Chile.
• The Incas
cultivated corn &
potatoes, & raised
llamas and
alpacas for food &
What
territory
made up the
empire?
Why and
how do you
think the
Alpacas
were used
for labor?

12. Cultur
e• A confederation of
tribes with a single
people more or less
in control
• Each of these tribes
were ruled
independently by a
council of elders
• the tribe as a whole
gave allegiance to
the ruler/ "Inca.“
• Conquered people
were required to
pay a labor tax
1.What is a confederation?
2.Who ruled the tribes?
3.What did they call the
rulers?
4.Who was required to pay
taxes?

13. European Explorers & Conquest
• Christopher
Columbus is one of
the first European
explorers to reach
the New World.
• He landed in the
Caribbean not
realizing he was in a
new world instead
of India (where he
was aiming to go.)
• His discovery led to
countries like Spain
and Portugal to
battle for new land.
Who was one of the
first European
Explorers to reach
the New World?
Where was
Christopher Columbus
aiming to go?
Where did Christopher
Columbus end up?
What did his
discoveries lead to?

14. European Explorers &
Conquest
• Spain and Portugal
created an agreement
known as the Treaty of
Tordesillas.
• It stated anything west
of the 50˚longitude was
for Spain, everything to
the east of the same
longitude was for
Portugal.
• This is why so much of
Latin America speaks
Spanish: more land
conquered by Spain.
What agreement did Spain and Portugal
create? What was its purpose?
What effect did this have on their culture?

15. European Explorers
& Conquest
• As both Spain, Portugal, and
later other Europeans came
to the New World, many
came in search of new
wealth and resources.
• Many conquistadors
(conquerors) like Hernan
Cortes and Francisco Pizarro
would later conquer and
control the empires created
by the natives.
• Natives would be forced to
give up their culture and
adapt to the Spanish ways
of life.
What did the Europeans come to the
New World in search of?
Why were the Natives forced to adapt
to new Spanish ways of life?

16. European
Explorers &
Conquest
• As Europeans began to arrive and
settle in the new conquered world,
many would begin families with the
natives of Latin America creating a
new group of people: mestizos (half
European, half Native).
• In other parts of Latin America
where slaves from Africa were
brought to the New World, again a
new group was created: mulattos
(half European, half African.)
Who are the
Mestizos? How
did they become
a new group of
people?
Who are the
Mulattos? How
did they become
a new group of
people?

17. European Explorers & Conquest

18. European Explorers
& Conquest
• For almost 400 years, Latin
America would be ruled by
Europeans.
• By the 1800s, many Latin
American countries would
begin revolting and fighting
for independence from
Europe.
• Leaders like Miguel Hidalgo
and Simon Bolivar would lead
the revolutions for
independence.
• Most of Latin America would
be free by the mid-1950s.
How long was Latin America ruled by
Europeans?
When did Latin American countries being
fighting for independence from Europe?
What does the word “revolting” mean?
Name two leaders of the revolution for
independence:
When was the majority of Latin America
free?

19. European Explorers
& Conquest
• Caudillos, or military
officers, would rise to rule
many Latin American
countries after
independence was granted.
• Much of Latin America
remained poor and
underdeveloped until years
of fighting and revolutions
ended.
• Now, much of Latin America
is developing and seeing
progress, but still struggle
with the effects of years of
civil war.
What are the
Military officers
called?
Who ruled the
Latin American
countries once
they gained
Independence?
What was the
level of
development for
years to come
after the
revolution
ended?
What is their
level of
development
now? What does
this say about
their standard of