ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Latin America

Latin America is a region of the Americas made up of many countries, such as Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. It has a very long and interesting history! Thousands of years ago, some of the first people in the region were Native American tribes, like the Aztecs in what is now Mexico. They had many advanced civilizations with things like temples, art, and more.

When Spanish and Portuguese explorers arrived in the 1500s, they brought their culture and language. Soon, much of Latin America was part of the Spanish or Portuguese empires, and those languages became the most common in the region.

Later on, many countries in Latin America declared their independence from European control. This happened in the 1800s and early 1900s, and it was part of a movement called "the Latin American independence wars." After a long fight, these countries finally became their own, and they started to modernize and become like the countries we know today.

Latin America has come a long way, and it continues to grow and develop. It is an amazing place with a great history.