The Spanish Empire, Silver, & Runaway Inflation: Crash Course World History #25

The Aztec Empire was formed from an alliance of which three major cities?

• Texcoco, Tenochtitlan, and Tlacopán

• Chichen Itza, Uxmal, and Mayapán

• Teotihuacan, Cholula, and Tula

• Palenque, Calakmul, and Tikal

What was the primary purpose of human sacrifice in Aztec religion?

• To celebrate successful harvests and ensure fertility.

• To appease the gods and prevent cosmic disasters.

• To demonstrate military power and intimidate rivals.

• To honor ancestors and ensure their passage to the afterlife.

How did the Inca Empire keep records without a written language?

• Through oral traditions passed down by storytellers.

• Using a system of knotted strings called quipus.

• By carving symbols into stone tablets.

• With pictographic scrolls made from animal hides.

What was the name of the Inca labor system adopted by the Spanish for silver mining?

• Encomienda

• Hacienda

• Mita

• Repartimiento

What was a significant economic consequence for Spain due to the massive influx of silver from the Americas in the 16th-18th centuries?

• It led to a stable economy with consistent tax revenues.

• It caused rampant inflation, diminishing the value of collected taxes.

• It allowed Spain to avoid engaging in expensive wars.

• It resulted in a decrease in the overall wealth of the Spanish monarchy.

How was Charles V's vast European empire ultimately divided after his reign?

• It was entirely inherited by his son, Philip II.

• It was split between his son Philip II, who received Spain and its American territories, and his brother Ferdinand, who received the Austrian territories.

• It was completely dissolved and its territories became independent.

• It was absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire under a new ruler.

What change did the Ming government in China implement regarding tax payments in the 16th century?

• They reduced tax rates to stimulate the economy.

• They began accepting taxes only in grain and labor.

• They required all taxes to be paid in silver.

• They abolished taxes for farmers to encourage agricultural production.

What were some of the widespread consequences of the global silver trade during the 16th and 17th centuries?

• It led to stable economies and improved environmental conditions worldwide.

• It resulted in inflation, weakened governments, environmental damage, and the destruction of indigenous empires.

• It fostered peaceful international relations and cultural exchange.

• It primarily benefited only the Spanish and Chinese economies without broader global impact.