Latin American History & Geography: Civilizations, Conquest, and Modern Challenges

What civilization built chinampas to adapt to their swampy environment?

The Aztec civilization.

What agricultural technique did the Inca use to survive in the Andes Mountains?

They carved terrace farms into mountainsides.

What was the primary cause of the Spanish victory over the Aztec Empire?

A combination of disease, native alliances, and superior technology.

What disease significantly weakened the Aztec population before major battles?

Smallpox.

What was the Columbian Exchange?

The massive flow of people, plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds.

What were the benefits of the Columbian Exchange for the Old World?

New crops like potatoes and corn led to a population boom.

What catastrophic event did Old World diseases cause in the New World?

The Great Dying, killing approximately 90% of the indigenous population.

What economic system did Spanish colonies operate under?

Mercantilism.

What was the Casta System?

A rigid racial hierarchy in Spanish colonies.

What was the Encomienda system?

A system of forced labor justified by the religious mission to convert natives.

What long-term cause inspired the Latin American Revolutions?

The Enlightenment's ideas of liberty.

What event in 1808 sparked the Latin American Revolutions?

Napoleon's invasion of Spain.

What was the outcome of the Latin American Revolutions regarding social hierarchy?

Independence removed the Spanish but often left the social hierarchy intact.

What was Brazil's unique path to independence?

A peaceful transition led by Prince Dom Pedro I.

What is the Liberal Paradox in the context of post-colonial Latin America?

To be free, one must be enslaved to the law.

What was the Roosevelt Corollary?

A shift in U.S. policy stating it would act as the internal police force for less 'civilized' nations.

What was the U.S. involvement in the Chilean coup of 1973?

The U.S. helped overthrow Salvador Allende and replace him with dictator Pinochet.

What are the four explanations for Latin America's economic development challenges?

Colonial legacy, political instability, neocolonialism, and failure of the 'Big Push'.

What does the term 'neocolonialism' refer to in Latin America?

The continued economic control by foreign powers even after independence.

What does Venezuela's crisis illustrate about economic dependency?

The dangers of relying on a single commodity, like oil, for economic survival.

What is the definition of autocracy?

A system of government by one person with absolute power.

What does it mean to nationalize an industry?

To transfer it from private to state ownership.

What does the term precarious mean?

Not securely held or in position; dangerously likely to fall or collapse.

What is sovereignty?

The authority of a state to govern itself or another state.