How Did Latin American Culture Change Over Time
Throughout the period from 1500 C.E. to 1750 C.E., interregional trade in Latin America and the Caribbeans changed as it went from isolationist to being a part in global trade and polythetic to Christianity, but continued to have an agriculturally-based economy and kept some native traditions.
Before 1500 C.E., Latin America and the Caribbeans were separated from global trade, meaning they isolated and developed independently. Latin America and the Caribbeans during this time consists of the Aztecs and the Incans. The Aztecs settled in the valley of Mexico and grew many crops such as corn, so they were an agriculturally-based economy. The Aztecs frequently engaged in warfare to conquer others cities, mostly left the local governments …show more content…
As a result, the introduction of smallpox, measles, influenza, and other Afro-Eurasian diseases to the Americas devastated the native population, which had no natural immunity, wiped out the native slaves in the encomienda system, created famine, and created demand for other sources of labor due to the lack of people to work fields. Europeans created unique systems of trade to incorporate the Americas into their trade networks which further distributed goods throughout the world, and had major demographic and environmental effects. Led by Spain and Portugal, Europe set up the Triangular Trade, which carried enslaved Africans to the Americas to work on sugar plantations and gold and silver mines. Europeans destroyed forests and vegetation to establish plantations, which profoundly changed the New World's environment. Spain and other European powers also hoped to convert Native Americans to Christianity and sent missionaries to the New World. Many under Spanish rule adopted Christianity and blended it with native traditions. When the Aztec civilization was conquered by the Spaniards, the Aztecs' religion was considered barbaric and they were not allowed to continue their traditional ways of human sacrifices. As a result of these changes, new social orders, religious traditions, and populations were
Before 1500 C.E., Latin America and the Caribbeans were separated from global trade, meaning they isolated and developed independently. Latin America and the Caribbeans during this time consists of the Aztecs and the Incans. The Aztecs settled in the valley of Mexico and grew many crops such as corn, so they were an agriculturally-based economy. The Aztecs frequently engaged in warfare to conquer others cities, mostly left the local governments …show more content…
As a result, the introduction of smallpox, measles, influenza, and other Afro-Eurasian diseases to the Americas devastated the native population, which had no natural immunity, wiped out the native slaves in the encomienda system, created famine, and created demand for other sources of labor due to the lack of people to work fields. Europeans created unique systems of trade to incorporate the Americas into their trade networks which further distributed goods throughout the world, and had major demographic and environmental effects. Led by Spain and Portugal, Europe set up the Triangular Trade, which carried enslaved Africans to the Americas to work on sugar plantations and gold and silver mines. Europeans destroyed forests and vegetation to establish plantations, which profoundly changed the New World's environment. Spain and other European powers also hoped to convert Native Americans to Christianity and sent missionaries to the New World. Many under Spanish rule adopted Christianity and blended it with native traditions. When the Aztec civilization was conquered by the Spaniards, the Aztecs' religion was considered barbaric and they were not allowed to continue their traditional ways of human sacrifices. As a result of these changes, new social orders, religious traditions, and populations were