November 13, 2014 Introduction to Caribbean - Central - South America PPT / Notes Central America Physical Geography
7 Countries between Mexico (in North) and Colombia (in South) Tropical Climate Landforms Hills and mountains Panama Canal Ring of Fire Earthquakes, Volcanoes Caribbean Physical Geography
What physical process created this archipelago? Volcanoes What is the climate? Tropical = Hot and Wet What Natural Hazards threaten the islands? Hurricanes Earthquakes Floods Mudslides South America Physical Geography
Amazon River Andes Mountains Guiana Highlands Brazilian Highlands Central America Culture and History
Colonized by Spain in 1500s, many indigenous people (Maya, for example). Demography Population = 42,000,000 Largely Mestizo Native + Spanish Mulatto - Spanish mixed with African Slave trade Caribbean Culture and History
Region colonized by Spain, France, Great Britain, Netherlands during 1500s Why? Plantation Agriculture / Columbian Exchange Brought African Slaves for Sugar Trade What crops did the Europeans want? Sugar Cane, Tobacco, Coffee, Bananas Demography What are the people like? Population = 38 Million People are mixed European, Indigenous, and African Different cultural mixes on different islands Results Varied languages, religions, food South America Culture and History
Spanish conquered Inca in 1500s Spanish and Native influences Languages Quechua Inca language Spanish Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) Spain and Portugal with help from the Pope split up South America Portugal gets Brazil Central America Economy
Most of the population lives in poverty Ecotourism a form of tourism that involves visiting protected areas. Commercial farming Coffee Bananas Caribbean Economy What is the economy like? Varies by island
Mostly Primary Employment Sectors Agriculture Mining Fishing Tourism is very important, especially for small islands Informal Economy jobs that take place outside of official channels, no taxes. Protection for workers South America Economy Most are based upon Agriculture
Oil and Mineral resources US gets more oil from South America than Middle East Mercosur trade agreement between South American countries Central America Daily Life, Art, and Music
Natives and Spanish Influence Spanish Language Catholic Religion Caribbean Daily Life, Art, and Music
Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Natives and African influences Religions Catholic, Voodoo, Santeria Languages Spanish, French, English, Dutch Music and Dance Calypso combines African and Spanish elements (Steel drums) Reggae from Jamaica, deals with social problems and religion Bomba in Puerto Rico Merengue in Domincan Rep. Mambo in Cuba South America Daily Life, Art, and Music
Literature Gabriel Garcia Marquez Nobel Prizefor Literature 1982 Gabriel Garca Mrquez was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America. Born: March 6, 1927, Aracataca, Colombia Died: April 17, 2014, Mexico City, Mexico Music and Dance (Mix of native, African, and European influences) Pop and Folk Music popular Dance Tango in Argentina Samba in Brazil