Unit 5: History and Culture of Latin America

About nine thousand years ago, people in Mexico and Central America began farming. Later, advanced civilizations such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca became powerful and wealthy. During the 1500s, Europeans conquered these civilizations. In the late 1700s, revolutions in the United States and France inspired the people of Latin America to fight for their independence. After gaining independence, many countries were controlled by dictators. By the 1980s, the people of Latin America began to demand a return to democracy. In many countries, the dictators were forced to give up control to elected leaders.

Latin America is a melting pot of Europeans, Africans, Native Americans, and Asians. Immigrants have greatly shaped Latin America's population. Latin American music is a blend of European and African rhythms while Latin American art has been influenced by a mix of many ethnic groups.