Things to Know and Understand Latin America is a region of widely diverse
physical features, climates, and cultures.
Physical features and climate have influenced the patterns of settlement in the region.
Latin American cultures are a mixture of Native American, African, and European traditions.
Advanced civilizations, including those of the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas emerged in the Americas.
Geography
3 major regions
Caribbean- islands in the Caribbean Sea
Central America- From Mexico to Panama
South America- Below Panama
Major Landforms
Mountains (barriers) La Cordillera Sierra Madre Andes
Lowlands Pampas- grassy plains that stretch
from Argentina into Uruguay.
Barriers
Mountains and tropical rainforests act as barriers.
These features limited contact among areas and contributed to regionalism- strong local traditions that divide people within a country or region.
The Mighty Amazon
Starts in the Andes mountains. 4,000 miles long.
Rich in lumber and minerals. Ships use the river to transport goods.
Varied Climates
Lush, tropical rainforests to frozen wastelands.
¾ of Latin America lies in the tropics.
Temperate climates- Paraguay and Uruguay
Dry climates- Northern Mexico and Argentina
Row 1- What natural resources exist in Latin America and where? (445-446)
Minerals: gold and silver. Chile- copper, Bolivia- tin.
Energy resources: oil, natural gas
Agricultural resources: Bananas, sugar, tobacco, coffee, and rubber, lumber.
Problems of economic dependence: Rely on only one cash crop.
Row 2- Peoples of Latin America (p. 446)
Native Americans: Spoke many languages, had diverse cultures.
Europeans and Asians: Spanish and Portuguese mainly.
Africans: 1,500-1,800 slave traders brought millions of Africans
to the Americas. Worked on plantations and mines.
Ethnic and cultural mix: Mix of natives, Europeans, and Africans.
Row 3- Population Patterns (p. 446-447)
Limited farmland:
Climate and rugged terrain left 6% of land suitable for farming. Forests cleared for farmland but soil not suitable for farming.
Difficult communication Landforms and climates made it hard for
contact between culture.
Row 4- Elevation and Climate (p. 445)
Tierra caliente- Hot land. Closest to sea level. Grow bananas
and sugar cane.
Tierra templada- plateau Andes valley. Above 3,000 feet.
Tierra fria- Cold lands. Above 6,000 feet sea level. Grow
wheat barley, and potatoes.
Row 5- Read El Nino pg. 444
What is el Niño? Current of warm water. Can be a disaster flooding
Why are scientists trying to learn more about it? People can be more prepared for the
hazardous weather.
The Great Empires Fall Incas and Aztecs reached
peaks around the year 1500.
Columbus discovered the New World in 1492.
Soon after, conquistadors started following Columbus to the Americas in search of gold. Mankind (30:00, episode 6,
Survivors).
Hernando Cortes in Mexico
Landed on coast of Mexico in 1519.
Set out to conquer Aztec empire.
Within two years, 600 men, 16 horses and 14 cannons were able to defeat the mighty Aztecs.
Did so easily. Why?:
Smallpox wiped out Aztecs
Moctezuma didn’t fight the
Spanish
Saw Cortes as a god.
horses
Pizzaro in Peru By 1535,
Pizzaro controlled the entire empire. He used:▪ Trickery▪ Violence▪ Disease
Destroyed much of the wealth of the Inca Empire.
Europe’s Colonies in the Americas
Spain and Portugal built rich empires in
L.A. based on the labor of Native
Americans and enslaved Africans. A rigid class structure developed in L.A. The Roman Catholic Church dominated
life in L.A. and served as a unifying force. In the 1800s, L.A. countries won
independence but had trouble building
stable governments.
European Imperialism in the Americas.
Columbus discovers New World for Spain.
Balboa discovers the Pacific Ocean.
Magellan names the Pacific Ocean.
Spanish Rule in the Americas
By mid-1500’s, Spanish ruled an empire from Mexico to Peru.
Government Ruled by a viceroy- an official who rules
in place of a king. Towns governed by cabildos- councils
Economy
Mercantilism- An economic system where a country’s
economic strength depended on increasing its gold supply and by exporting more than it imported.
▪ Colonies existed as a source of raw materials.
▪ Colonies existed as a market to sell finished goods.
▪ Mother country would protect the colony
Effects of Imperialism
Europeans gain gold and silver
Plantation (haciendas) economy develops.
Colonies grow cash crops.
Slave labor Originally used encomienda system.▪ Forced Native American labor in return for land.
Deaths of native populations.
Effects of Imperialism
A slave system To protect natives, began using Africans
instead. Slavery had existed in Europe. African slaves were working in the
Caribbean.
Atlantic Slave Trade Euros thought Africans were better
workers.
Columbian Exchange
Products from the Americas spread throughout the world. Global exchange of people, goods
and ideas.
From Americas ==> Europe Corn, potatoes, squash, chocolate,
peanuts, tomatoes. Unintended Consequence=disease.
Latin America in the World Today
1820s- Spain wants to reclaim its colonies
US institutes Monroe Doctrine to keep European countries out of the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Intervention in L.A.
Mexican War Mexico gives up almost half its territory
Spanish-American War Cuba becomes independent, U.S. grabs
Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
Panama Canal Roosevelt buys the right to dig.
Mountains, Jungles, Oceans, Seas…
How do these geographic features affect the development of Latin America?
Who was at the top of the social class system in colonial Latin America?
What were the demographics of this class?