Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Latin America
The geography, customs, and history of Latin America.
17
Other
9th Grade
04/15/2011

Additional Other Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What three mountain ranges dominate Mexico?
Definition
Sierra Madre Occidental, Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre del Sur
Term
Describe Mexico's gulf coast's economy.
Definition
It is one of the world's major oil producing regions, with petroleum and natural gas.
Term
Describe the geography, industry, and population of the Yucatan peninsula.
Definition
It is a generally flat area with sinkholes and Mayan remains. It is sparsely populated, but tourism is a major industry (Cancun)
Term
What is "The Place of 3 Cultures" and why?
Definition
Plaza de las Tres Culturas, found in Mexico city, has Aztec, Spanish, and modern architecture. There is an Aztec pyramid, with a Spanish Church from 1609 behind it, and behind that is a modern office building.
Term
When did Latin America win most of it's independance?
Definition
Late 1700s and early 1800s.
Term
What are caudillos?
Definition
Strong military leaders like dictators who favored the rich
Term
Who was Porfirio Diaz?
Definition
A Mexican dictator until he was overthrown in 1917.
Term
Describe the Aztecs.
Definition
They had the most powerful empire in early Mexico, and in the 1400s the capital city Tenochtitlan was built on an island in a lake. Many temples, social structures with royaltym and marketplaces could be found there. 60,000 Aztecs gathered there each day.
Term
What is between the three Mexican mountain ranges?
Definition
A central plateau where Mexico City is located.
Term
What is Baja California?
Definition
A peninsula to the north of Mexico
Term
What is to the south of Mexico?
Definition
A narrow strip of tropical coastline (Acupulco)
Term
What is to the east of Mexico?
Definition
The Yucatan Peninsula
Term
Describe the central plateau of Mexico (population, climate, geography, etc.)
Definition
Most important area, with 80% of population living there. It has a nice, temperate climate usually in the 70s, and has the best farmland. However, it is geographically unstable because it is the intersection of 4 tectonic plates.
Term
What is in the South Pacific Coast of Mexico?
Definition
Tourism is big, with ports such as Mazatlan, Acapulco, and Puerto Vallarta.
Term
Describe the Spanish invasion of Mexico.
Definition
Hernan Cortez came to Tenochtitlan in 1519 with 600 others from the Gulf Coast, where they had allied with Aztec enemies. Within two years they conquered the Aztecs, and the territory became the colony known as New Spain.
Term
Describe the Social Class system in New Spain.
Definition
From top to bottom:
Peninsulares (Spaniards from Spain)
Criollos (children of Spaniards)
Mestizos (Half European, half Native)
Indigenous population/natives
Haciendas (natives provided Spanish w/labor)
Term
Who is Miguel Hidalgo?
Definition
A criollo priest who in 1810 leads a revolt againsst the Spanish.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!