Ancient Civilizations and Spanish Colonization

Spanish Colonization

• The conquistadors were Spanish soldiers who conquered land, stole gold, and converted natives to Christianity for Spain.
• Hernan Cortez destroyed the Aztec Civilization and murdered their leader, Monctezuma.
• The Spanish Social structure placed people from Spain at the top, those born in Mexico in the middle, and natives as slaves.
• The Spanish treated natives terribly.
• The Florentine Codex is a book that tells the stories of Spanish Colonization in Central America.

Mexican Revolt

• Weakened government, unfair social structure, and taxes were the causes of the Mexican Revolt.

Mexican Cession

• After Mexico became independent from Spain, there was a power struggle between leaders, resulting in Mexico losing ⅓ of its territory to the U.S.

Caribbeans

• Natives were hunter-gatherers who used canoes to get around.
• Columbus colonized the land, enslaving and killing natives.
• The Spanish targeted larger islands with more precious metals and larger farming space.

Cuba & Puerto Rico

• Last Caribbean Spanish colonies where citizens revolted against colonization and slavery for years.
• The U.S. claimed war against Spain after a U.S. navy ship was destroyed, and the U.S. won.
• Cuba gained independence but remained under U.S. control.
• Fidel Castro was a Cuban dictator against the U.S. who allied with the U.S.S.R., leading to a U.S. embargo on Cuba.

Economic Barriers in South America

• Poor citizens can't afford to buy products, causing economic decline.
• Poor individuals can't pay taxes used for infrastructure and improvements.
• Poor areas have a low percentage of educated individuals.

Medieval European History

Middle Ages Life

• Monasteries had scribes who copied manuscripts and made books.
• Monks taught reading and writing and took care of their community.
• Monks recorded history during the Middle Ages.

Daily Life

• Royals and nobles had banquets to show their power.
• Sumptuary laws determined nobles from peasants.
• Hunting was a favored sport of the nobles played on the Baron's land.
• Chess was introduced to Europe through Persia.
• Secular music was mainly about love during the Middle Ages.

Art & Literature

• Muslim artists made decorated tiles and rugs by hand.
• The Notre Dame is a Gothic cathedral in France.
• Byzantine and Romanesque art mainly focused on religion.
• Gothic art was more realistic and brighter.
• Illuminated manuscripts are illustrated manuscripts.
• Most books were written in Latin before the invention of the printing press.

Guilds

• Guilds provided work and craft to pass on to the next generation.
• Bookbinders and masons are two examples of craft guilds.
• Guilds had rules so all members have the same advantage.

Major Events

• The Hundred Years' War lasted 116 years.
• Edward the Black Prince was famous for his multiple victories for the British during the Hundred Years' War.
• Gunpowder reached Europe in 1300 from China.
• The longbow fired arrows farther than crossbows.
• The Black Death was a pandemic that spread over a wide area.
• Sailors had to quarantine for 40 days during the Black Plague.
• Fleas carried the Bubonic Plague.
• Lancing is when a doctor cuts into boils.
• Two symptoms are boils and fever.
• City officials tried to keep the plague from spreading by quarantining ships and shutting down restaurants.
• It started in Europe through rats and fleas.
• It took 300-400 years for population numbers to recover.