1485-1547, Spanish conquistador who defeated the Aztecs and conquered Mexico

(1200-1521) 1300, they settled in the valley of Mexico. Grew corn. Engaged in frequent warfare to conquer others of the region. Worshipped many gods (polytheistic). Believed the sun god needed human blood to continue his journeys across the sky. Practiced human sacrifices and those sacrificed were captured warriors from other tribes and those who volunteered for the honor.

A Native American people who built a notable civilization in western South America in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The center of their empire was in present-day Peru. Francisco Pizarro of Spain conquered the empire.

A practice, primarily during the eighteenth century, in which European ships transported slaves from Africa to Caribbean islands, molasses from the Caribbean to Europe, and trade goods from Europe to Africa.

A conquistador like Cortes, who conquered the Incas in Peru and help to begin more advances in South America. Besides miners, farmers, priests, friars and missionaries went to South America after it was conquered by the conquistadores.

A Spanish conqueror of the Americas

crops, such as tobacco, sugar, and cotton, raised in large quantities in order to be sold for profit

An exchange of goods, ideas and skills from the Old World (Europe, Asia and Africa) to the New World (North and South America) and vice versa.

disease from Europeans

One country taking over another area to be used for their benefit

A large farm in tropical and subtropical climates that specializes in the production of one or two crops for sale, usually to a more developed country

- Mexican priest and revolutionary. Although the revolt he initiated (1810) against Spanish rule failed, he is regarded as a national hero in Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain.

Conservative Creole officer in Mexican army who signed agreement with insurgent forces of independence; combined forces entered Mexico City in 1821; later proclaimed emperor of Mexico until its collapse in 1824.

1803 - Led a slave rebellion which took control of Haiti, the most important island of France's Caribbean possessions. The rebellion led Napoleon to feel that New World colonies were more trouble than they were worth, and encouraged him to sell Louisiana to the U.S.

1783-1830, Venezuelan statesman: leader of revolt of South American colonies against Spanish rule.

He was a pro-American dictator of Cuba before Castro. His overthrow led to Castro and communists taking over Cuba, who was now friendly to the Soviets.

Communist leader of Cuba

In April 1961, a group of Cuban exiles organized and supported by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency landed on the southern coast of Cuba in an effort to overthrow Fidel Castro. When the invasion ended in disaster, President Kennedy took full responsibility for the failure.

(JFK) , , an international crisis in October 1962, the closest approach to nuclear war at any time between the U.S. and the USSR. When the U.S. discovered Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba, President John F. Kennedy demanded their removal and announced a naval blockade of the island; the Soviet leader Khrushchev acceded to the U.S. demands a week later, on condition that US doesn't invade Cuba

Guerilla movement named in honor of Emiliano Zapata; originated in 1994 in Mexico's southern state of Chiapas; government responded with a combination of repression and negotiation

a terrorist group formed in Peru in the late 1960s as a splinter group from the communist party of Peru

A conflict that was between the US and the Soviet Union. The nations never directly confronted each other on the battlefield but deadly threats went on for years.

..., a ship canal 40 miles long across the Isthmus of Panama built by the United States (1904-1914)

(Chile; 70,000 sq. mi.) This desert's chief claim to fame is the rain shadow of the Andes which makes it the driest (hot) desert in the world. The desert was the primary bone of contention in the War of the Pacific (1879-1883, Chile defeats Peru and Bolivia) that sought to control its nitrate resources (which were necessary for the production of explosives).

A large system of mountain ranges located along the Pacific coast of Central and South America

a mountain range in Mexico, it forms most of the interior of the country

A major river in South America that flows through Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil.

The removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves.

A government ruled by a king or queen

A tax on imported goods

A limit placed on the quantities of a product that can be imported

(n.) an order forbidding the trade in or movement of commercial goods; any restraint or hindrance; (v.) to forbid to enter or leave port; to forbid trade with

A government that gives all key powers to the national or central government

government ruled by religion

Form of government in which people vote for the legislative body, which in turn selects the prime minister.

Command system, government owns the means of production, economic decisions are made by central government, and government provides extensive social programs for population

A government ruled by a few powerful people

A form of government in which citizens choose their leaders by voting

a person who starts up & takes the risk of a business

government divided between national and state powers

Last ruling Inca emperor of Peru. He was executed by the Spanish. (p. 438)

Aztec Ruler, mistook Cortes to be god and welcomed him into the empire. Offered him gifts, but was killed nonetheless.

An arrangement of knotted strings on a cord, used by the Inca to record numerical information.