Chapter Summary
nThe new Latin American empires of Spain and Portugal maintained special contacts with the West.
nWestern ideas were imposed on indigenous cultures as the militarily superior European invaders conquered native lands.
nLatin America would became part of the world economy as a dependent region.
nOver time, the Iberians mixed with native populations and created new political and social group - a distinctive
civilization.
nIndian civilization, although battered and transformed, survived and influenced later societies.
nEuropeans sought economic gain and social mobility; they utilized coerced laborers or slaves to create plantations and mine deposits of precious metals or diamonds.