Latin America

1

Latin America

Unit 3

2

Physical Geography of Latin America

Chapter 7

3

4

5

Landforms

• Middle America

– Mexico and Central America

• Central America

– an isthmus, or a narrow piece of land that links North America and South America

6

Landforms

• Middle America– Lies where four tectonic plates meet– Deposits of ash and lava make the soil fertile

7

Landforms

• Middle America– Central America

• Thick forests

• rugged mountains

• coastal marshes

– make it difficult to transport goods in that country

8

Landforms

• The Caribbean– The islands of the Caribbean Sea

• A.K.A. = West Indies

– divided into the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas

9

Landforms• The Caribbean

– The Greater Antilles

• Largest islands

– Cuba

– Hispaniola

– Puerto Rico

– Jamaica

– The Lesser Antilles

• an archipelago

– group of islands, curving from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad

10

Landforms

• South America– The Andes

• world’s longest mountain system

– are a cordillera and stretch along the Pacific coast of South America for about 5,500 miles (8,851 km)

11

Landforms

• South America– Tropical grasslands

• known as the Llanos

• stretch through eastern Colombia and Venezuela

12

Landforms

• South America– Pampas

• Another well-known plain

• covers much of Argentina and Uruguay

• provides grazing land for beef cattle and fertile soil for growing grains

13

Waterways

• Rivers– The Amazon

• Latin America’s longest river

• starts in the Andes and flows east about 4,000 miles (6,437 km) to the Atlantic Ocean

14

Waterways

• Rivers– Paraná, Paraguay, and Uruguay

• form Latin America’s second-largest river system• These rivers flow into the Rio de la Plata

– a broad estuary, or area where river currents and ocean tides meet—which meets the Atlantic Ocean

15

Waterways

• Other Waterways– Lake Maracaibo

• Venezuela • South America’s largest lake • contains some of Venezuela’s oil fields

16

Waterways

• Other Waterways

– Lake Titicaca

• between Bolivia and Peru

• About 12,500 feet above sea level

• the world’s highest lake

• used by large ships.

17

Waterways

• Other Waterways– Panama Canal

• Ships – use the canal to shorten travel time between the Atlantic

and Pacific Oceans

18

A Wealth of Natural Resources

• Brazil– Latin America’s largest country

• rain forests

– provide timber, rubber, palm oil, and Brazil nuts

19

A Wealth of Natural Resources

• Energy Resources– Venezuela

• region’s largest oil and natural gas reserves

• Other Resources– Silver

• mined in Mexico

– Colombian • Mines the world’s finest emeralds

– Chile • world’s largest exporter of copper

20

Climate Regions

Section 2

21

Hot to Mild Climates

• Tropical Climates– Tropical wet

• Vast rain forest are found here

22

Hot to Mild Climates

• Tropical Climates– Amazon Basin

• South America• Home to the world’s largest rain forest

23

Hot to Mild Climates

• Tropical Climates– Canopy

• Trees grow close together• Tops form a dense canopy

– Umbrella-like covering of leaves– So dense that sunlight seldom reaches the forest floor

24

Hot to Mild Climates

• Tropical Climates– Caribbean islands

• Developed a tourism industry despite hurricanes

25

Hot to Mild Climates

• Temperate Climates– Humid subtropical climate

• Short and mild winters• Long, hot, humid summers

26

Hot to Mild Climates

• Temperate Climates– Chile

• Mediterranean Climate– Farmers grow large amounts of fruit

27

Hot to Mild Climates

• Dry Climates– Atacama Desert

• One of the driest places on the earth

28

Hot to Mild Climates

• El Nino– A set of changes in air pressure, temperature,

and rainfall• Begins in the Pacific Ocean• Waters off Peru’s coast are unusually warm

29

Elevation and Climate

• Andes– Four altitude zones of climate

• Tierra Caliente– Hot land

• Tierra Templada• Tierra Fria

– Begins at 6,000 feet

• Tierra Helada– Zone of highest elevation– Temps as low as 20°F

30

History and Cultures of Latin America

Section 1

31

History and Government

Section 1

32

Spain

Portugal

France, Britain, and the Netherlands

Caudillos

United States and Spain

Panama

Fidel Castro

33

Key facts

34

Early History

• Early Native American Civilizations– Olmec

• Lived in Southern Mexico• 1500 b.c.-300 b.c.• Grew corn, controlled minerals, built temples

35

Early History

• Early Native American Civilizations– Maya

• Lived in the Yucatan Peninsula• 300 a.d.-900 a.d.• Skills

– Astronomy– Used their knowledge of stars, moon, and planets to

develop a calendar– Had a number system based on 20– Used hieroglyphics to record history

» A form of writing that uses signs and symbols

36

Early History

• Early Native American Civilizations– Aztecs

• 1200 a.d.• Central Mexico• Tenochtitlan

– Aztec capital

37

Early History

• Early Native American Civilizations– Inca

• 1400s• South America (Peru)• Empire

– Stretched more than 2,500 miles– Cuzco

» Capital

38

39

Early History

• European Conquests– 1519

• Spanish Army – led by Hernán Cortés– Landed on Mexico’s Gulf coast – marched to Tenochtitlán, Mexico, and overtook the Aztec

40

Early History

• European Conquests– 1532

– Francisco Pizarro

• attacked the Inca

• killed the ruler

• conquered that empire

41

Early History

• Colonial Latin America– Spain

• built an empire that included: – South America– the Caribbean – Middle America– parts of present-day United States

42

Early History

• Colonial Latin America– Portugal

• took control of what is today Brazil

43

Early History

• Colonial Latin America– France, Britain, and the Netherlands

• overtook some Caribbean areas and parts of North America

44

Revolutionaries Vs. Results

45

Forming New Nations

• Independence– 1804

• enslaved Africans– under François-Dominique Toussaint-L’Ouverture – threw off French rule in Haiti

• Haiti – became the only nation ever created as a result of a

revolt by enslaved people

46

Forming New Nations

• Independence– Simón Bolívar

• won freedom from the Spanish for the present-day countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Bolivia

47

Forming New Nations

• Independence– 1817

• José de San Martín – liberated Chile and Argentina from Spanish rule

48

Forming New Nations

• Political and Economic Challenges– Caudillos

• Ruled as dictators• Favored the wealthy over the poor

49

Forming New Nations

• The United States and Latin America– 1898

• United States and Spain

– fought a war over Spanish-ruled Cuba

– Spain was defeated, and Cuba became a republic under U.S. protection

50

Forming New Nations

• The United States and Latin America– 1903

• United States

– helped Panama win its freedom from Colombia

– gained permission to build the Panama Canal

51

Forming New Nations

• Modern Times– 1959

• a young lawyer named Fidel Castro • carried out a revolution in Cuba and set up a

communist state– country whose government has strong control over the

economy and society as a whole

52

53

Forming New Nations

• Modern Times– Latin America’s challenges

• population is growing• resources are limited• Growing trade in illegal drugs has increased crime

and corruption• tensions still exist between rich and poor because

of differences

54

Cultures and Lifestyles

Section 2

55

The People

• Population Patterns– Coasts of South America and areas in Mexico

and Central America• Where most people live

– Why?» Favorable climates» Fertile land

56

The People

• Migration– Movement of people– included Europeans, Africans, and Asians,

either willingly or by force

57

The People

• Growth of Cities– South America

• about 80 percent of people live in cities

– Central America and the Caribbean• about 65 percent are urban dwellers

58

The People

• Ethnic Groups and Languages– Latin America’s Native Americans

– live in Mexico; Central America; and the Andes countries of Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia

– African Latin Americans

– form a high percentage of the populations in the Caribbean islands and northeastern Brazil

59

The People

• Languages– Spanish

• most widely spoken language in Latin America

– Portuguese• Brazilians mostly speak Portuguese

– Quechua– Creole

60

Daily Life

• Religion– Most Latin Americans are Christian

• Roman Catholics– The largest Christian group

61

Daily Life

• Family– Generations live together– Elders cared by their children– Adult brothers and sisters

• Live near each other and their children (cousins) form close relationships

– Father• Family leader• Decision maker

– Mother is leader of family in other parts of the Caribbean

62

Daily Life

• The Arts– Murals

• Reflect Maya and Aztec traditions

63

Latin America Today

Chapter 9

64

Mexico

Section 1

65

Mexico’s People, Government, and Culture

• Mexico’s People– Mestizos

• People with a Spanish and Native American heritage

66

Mexico’s People, Government, and Culture

• Mexico’s People– Mexico City

• The largest city in Mexico

67

Mexico’s People, Government, and Culture

• Mexico’s Government– President

• Can only serve 1 six year term

68

Mexico’s Economy and Society

• Using the attached worksheet, list the key facts about Mexico’s economic regions.

69

Mexico’s Economy and Society

• Economic and Social Changes– Smog

• A thick haze of fog and chemicals

70

Mexico’s Economy and Society

• Population and Ethnic Challenges– Illegal immigration

• U.S.– Tightened controls along the border

71

Central America and the Caribbean

Section 2

72

Countries of Central America

Central America

Made up of seven countries

73

Countries of Central America

Costa Rica

Has no army

74

Countries of Central America

Panama

Profits from fees, or set charges, that ships pay to use the canal

An important banking center

75

Countries of the Caribbean

Cuba

Command Economy- the communist government decides how resources are used and what goods and services are

produced

Many Cubans haven’t prospered under this system

76

Countries of the Caribbean

Puerto Rico

A commonwealth-self governing territory of the U.S.

Makes more money from tourism than any other Caribbean island

77

South America

Section 3

78

Brazil

Known for its Amazon rain forest

Brazilians call the rainforest the selva

79

Brazil

People

Largest population in all of Latin America

Portuguese culture

Largest cities- Sao Paulo & Rio de Janeiro

Many Brazilians have moved from rural to coastal cities to find better jobs

Favelas- overcrowded slum areas

80

Brazil

Economy

Productive farms

Valuable mineral resources

Oil

Hydroelectric energy

Industries

81

Brazil

The Rain Forest

Amazon- Brazil’s greatest natural resource

Deforestation- a cause of the world’s climate problem

82

Brazil

Government

Portuguese- First and largest European group to settle Brazil

Democratic federal republic

83

Argentina

People

second-largest country after Brazil

85% of people are of European ancestry, especially Spanish and Italian

Capital-Buenos Aires

84

Argentina

Economy

Gauchos- national symbol

Ranches

Beef- chief export

Industrialized

85

Argentina

Government

democratic federal republic

powerful president who is elected every four years

86

Other Countries of South America

Venezuela

Capital- Caracas

President- Hugo Chavez

87

Other Countries of South America

Columbia

Nearly 80 percent of Colombia’s people live in the valleys and highland plateaus of the

Andes

Bogotá is the capital and largest city

88

Other Countries of South America

Chile

Mining forms the backbone of Chile’s economy