South America’s History and Culture

World Geography

Early History

Most researchers believed the first people in South America entered from the North 12,000 years ago.

The first settlers were hunter-gatherers.

Farming began there 5,000 years ago.

Early Cultures

In the Colombian Andes, the Chibcha developed gold-working skills.

The Incas

The Inca founded South America’s greatest early civilization.

The Inca Empire stretched from Ecuador to Chile.

They built paved roads, suspension bridges, stone buildings and terraced fields.

They were taken over by Francisco Pizarro and the Spanish in the 1530’s.

Spanish Settlement in South America

The Spanish wanted to settle on the west side of the Continent because that is where the Inca had been.

The Portuguese come and the Spanish agree to take the west side of South America and the Portuguese take the east side.

The Spanish establish many land estates and forced the Indians to work on them.

The Europeans also brought disease that leave only a fraction of the Indians there alive.

The Spanish spread from Peru to Bolivia to Chile and Paraguay and Argentina.

What do the Spanish take?

The Spanish begin latifundias which were large land estates.

They get the Guarani indians to help them with ideas and work to make their settlements grow.

Portuguese Settlements

The Portuguese begin their settlements along the east side of South America.

They begin plantations to grow brazilwood and sugarcane.

After the Indians die because of disease, many plantation owners brought enslaved Africans to work.

The Portuguese settlements move inward and lead to mineral discoveries and the development of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janiero.

Colonial Era and Independence

Most South American countries gained their independence between 1810 and 1830.

The countries began isolated and different.

The borders of countries followed the colonial lines.

Uruguay was formed when land between Argentina and Brazil was formally divided.

Uruguay is a buffer state.

More countries, More Independence

Brazil gained its independence when its King went back to Portugal.

The British and Dutch Guianas only recently gained their independence.

Independence did little to help South Americans.

South American Governments Today

Independence did little to help South American governments.

Most still experience revolutions.

Several countries are ruled by dictators.

Bolivia has had 200 coups since they gained their independence.

A coup is a governmental overthrow.

South American Languages and People

Languages in South America are primarily determined by the country that settled them. Most western South Americans speak Spanish and eastern South Americans speak Portuguese.

On the border of Uruguay and Brazil, a language called Portunol is spoken. It’s a mix of Portuguese and Spanish.

The people have very different ethnicities.

Settlement Patterns

Most of South America’s population lies on the coasts and stretch a few hundred miles inland.

Many cities are seaports and many are high in the Andes.

The interior of South America is not very populated.

Religion and Traditions

Most people in South America are Roman Catholic; however there are Hindu temples and many Indian religions that are still practiced.

Islamic mosques are there are well.

Traditions

Some rainforest people have had little contact with the outside world.

They raise bananas, manoic, yams and other crops.

They hunt with bows and arrows and dart guns.

Many are ranchers called gauchos.