The arrival of the Spanish in the New World brought Christianity and the end of human sacrifice. Five million Indians were baptized in Mexico alone between 1524 and 1536.
It also brought a new system of management. Haciendas originated from Spanish land grants, made mostly to conquistadors. Laborers, ordinarily Indians, were theoretically free wage earners on haciendas, but in practice their employers, who controlled the local governments, were able to keep them in a state of perpetual indebtedness
Napoleon's invasion of Spain (1807-1808) provided the spark the laborers needed, and while Spain was busy fighting, most of their former colonies declared themselves independent.
In class activities:
- Learned about the hacienda/econmienda system of management
- Discussed the Spanish practice of giving conquered tribes the choice of conversion or death, and thought about what God would say of it
- Painted Spanish crosses
- Reviewed Aztec, Incan, & Mayan cultures
- Chose one favorite culture and created a pin displaying the culture name and significant symbols
- Played Conquistadors and Natives
Assignment for next week:
- Go through the notebooks and projects that you completed this year and choose your favorites to bring to presentation day!
- Practice your timeline
Thank you for a fantastic year!
