latin american history

when did spain colonise america

15th century

3 prominent indigenous civilisations in latin america pre-colonisation

mayan empire

aztec empire

incan empire

aztec impire pre colonisation

emperor = Moctezuma

capital = Tenochtitlan

130,000 sq km

300,000 ppl in the capital

mayan empire pre colonisation

used chocolate as money

advanced in maths

3-15th century

44 languages/dialects

incan empire pre colonisation

advanced in art + science

• brain surgeries

• architecture without mortar (piedra de los doce angulos)

how did the aztec empire fall

1521 = Hernan Cortes colonised it

they destroyed the people and buildings so we don’t know too much ab their lives pre colonisation

how did the incan empire fall

1532 = Francisco Pizzaro invaded

famous structure from the incan empire in Peru

MACHU PICCHU:

built: 15th century

altitude: 2490m

buildings: 200

UNESCO protected since: 1983

how many ppl at a time: 400

indigenous languages in latin america

68 in Mexico

64/68 in danger of extinction

bc of globalization + pressure to integrate

example of an indigenous languages

el nahuatl

aztec language
2m speakers in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador

controversial day

Dia de la Raza - celebrates the discovery of america by christopher columbus