Honors Latin American History Fall Final

Reconquista

The reconquering of the Iberian Peninsula from the Moors. Ending in 1492 with the retaking of Granada. Led by the King and Queen of Spain.

Norte Chico

One of the first civilians in the world. A pre-Ceramic society in the Andes

Quipus

A series of knotted ropes used to communicate information and records in the Andean civilizations

Incan Civilization

Beginning in the Cuzco valley, a complex civilisation was based in the Andean mountains.

Aztec Civilization

This civilisation settled in Mexico City Valley on Lake Texcoco a militaristic empire that dominated Mesoamerica.

Maya Civilization 

A highly advanced civilzation in Mesoamerica. Highly skilled in astronomy math and the arts

Teotihuacan

A central city-state in Mesoamerica. Dominated the artistic and cultural life of the area for 400 years.

La Noche Triste

The night Cortes and the conquistadors escaped from Tenochtitlan. Resulted in the deaths of many Spaniards.

Tenochtitlan

The capital city of the Aztec Empire. In the middle of the lake. At its height, had a population of over 500,000

Spanish Inquisition

Starting in the 1470s, a catholic quest to route out heresy within the Spanish Empire. Resulted with the expulsion of the jews and muslims from Iberia and New Spain.

Incan Civil War

A conflict that occurred between the brothers Atahualpa ad Huascar after the death of their father. It was fought over who would be Sapa Inca.

Haitian Revolution

A successful insurrection by self liberated slaves against French colonial rule in Saint Domingue

Francisco Pizarro

The conqueror of the Incan empire. He founded the city of Lima. He was later murdered by the supporters of Diego de Almagro

Hernán Cortés

The Conqueror of the Aztec Empire. Originally a mayor in Cuba, he stole Spanish ships to explore Mexico.

Toussaint Louverture

a Haitian general and the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution.

Semi sedentary

A society that roams around, but also settles for a period of time. Often resides within the forestsN

Non Sedentary

A nomadic society. Primarily hunter gathers

Sedentary

An established permanent civilization. Often more advanced technologically with complicated social structures.

Hegemony

A basic principle of social control, in which a ruling class dominates other ideologically, with a minimum of physical force, by making its dominance seem natrual and inevitable. Usually involves some degree of negotiation.

Transculturation

The creative interaction between two cultures, resulting in a new culture Transculturation among Europeans, Africans and indigenous created distinctive Latin American cultures

Viceroyalties

The larges administrative subdivision of the Spanish and Prtugese empires in America, ruled by a viceroy who acted the place of the king.

Encomienda System

Legal system by which the Spnaish ceown attempted to define the status of the indigenous population

Tawantinsuyu

The regional provinces of the Incan Empire. All corner of the regions meet in Cuzco

Atahualpa 

The Sapa Inca who met with Pizzaro and was tricked into surrendering

Moctezuma

The leader of the Aztecs when Cortes arrived. No one knows how he died.C

Quipu

knotted cords used for numerical record‑keeping and administrative accounting by the Inca.

Encomienda

colonial grant of indigenous labor and tribute to Spanish colonists.

Transculturation

cultural blending producing new hybrid forms

Casta system

racialised social classification structuring colonial society.

Hegemony

dominance of one group’s worldview or power over others.

Columbian Exchange

transoceanic transfer of species, peoples, and pathogens post‑1492.