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UNIT 3: LATIN AMERICAMrs. Curtiss

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WHY IT’S IMPORTANT Latin America reflects a unique blend of

world cultures, including Native American, European, and African.

In turn, Latin America’s diverse cultures have spread to other parts of the world. For example, the languages, music, foods and

arts of Latin America have profoundly influenced life in the United States.

Today, many Americans are of Latin American descent and maintain close ties to their heritage.

In addition, Americans and Latin Americans are close trading partners.

They share democratic values based on human rights and revolt from European rule.

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MAYAS

The Maya had one of the greatest civilizations of the Western Hemisphere

They built complex stone buildings and pyramid temples, practiced agriculture, worked in gold and copper and developed hieroglyphic writing.

One of the principal cities during the peak of Maya civilization (AD 250 – AD 900) was Palenque, in present day Mexico

Most surviving Mays structures, like the photo above, were overlaid with limestone blocks and were decorated with reliefs and inscriptions.

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WHAT MAKES LATIN AMERICA A REGION?

Spans 85 degrees of latitude Encompasses Mexico, Central America,

Caribbean Islands and South America Region of startling contrasts

High mountains run from N. Mexico through C. America

Higher peaks of Andes course down S. America’s western side

Elsewhere, broad plateaus span huge areas Lower elevation, plains dominate the landscape Great grasslands, such as the pampas in Argentina

and llanos in Venezuela/Colombia are ideal for grazing cattle and sheep

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WHAT MAKES LATIN AMERICA A REGION?

Latin America – many think rainforests Wet, intensely green and bursting with life Cover parts of many Caribbean islands and C.

American countries Amazon rainforest in Brazil

Drained by Amazon River Covers 1/3 of S. America Home to nearly ½ of world’s plant and animal

species

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AMAZON RIVER Begins in Andes (less than 100 miles from

Pacific Ocean) Flows nearly 4,000 miles to empty in Atlantic Ocean

Length equals distance from NYC to Rome, Italy Discharges so much freshwater at mouth that it reduces

salt content of Atlantic water up to 100 miles offshore Carries huge amount of water

Estimate funnels 20 percent of all freshwater that flows over the earth

Named by Spanish explorer Francisco de Orellana For the Amazons – band of female warriors in Greek

mythology Chose the name after he was attacked by group of

female warriors

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INDIGENOUS PEOPLE Inhabited Amazon region for 20,000 to 50,000

years Estimate that 200 groups of five million natives lived

in Amazon Basin Native peoples lived simply, moved frequently

and left few possessions Few clues left were quickly consumed by rain forest

Today – only 200,000 descendants continue to follow traditional lifestyle

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MIX OF OLD AND NEW

Latin America is a region where cultures have collided and combined Maya, Aztec and Inca flourished here long ago Europeans arrived in late 1400s

For over 300 years – Spain and Portugal controlled most of Latin America Forced new laws, new languages and new religion

on region’s inhabitants Native cultures survived by blending with those

of conquerors

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CULTURE HIGHLIGHTS:

Brazil – soccer is this country’s national sport; so passionate are they about the sport they have closed businesses and schools during the Soccer World Cup or important national competitions.

Costa Rica – have no army because they despise militarism; in school children learn that armies are created to oppress people; military forces may be organized for national defense if necessary

Brazil – country is so huge that it faces the Atlantic Ocean along 4,500 miles of coastline; it borders on every country of the South American continent except Chile and Ecuador

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Culture Highlights:Bananas and Coffee – crops closely associated with Latin America are not native to W. Hemisphere; bananas brought from Canary Islands and Europeans brought coffee in late 1700s

Parts of Argentina and Brazil have farms known as latitundia that are larger than some countries

Llamas are the largest S. American members of the camel family; useful pack animals because they carry up to 130 pounds and are surefooted on mountain trails

Inca of Peru were skilled builders; constructed stone buildings that clung to steep mountainsides; stones were cut so accurately they fit together without using mortar

Bolivia has two capitals, Sucre (1539) and La Paz; attempted to move capital from Sucre to La Paz in 1909 – civil war ensued; settled by establishing two capitals; Sucre kept as seat of supreme court, La Paz became center for executive and legislative branches of government

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CULTURAL EXCHANGE

Latin America was the original source of corn, potatoes and cacao

Coffee was originally brought to Latin America from Africa

Today coffee is the main export of several Latin America Consult the “Country Profiles” on pages 180-189 Identify the Latin American countries whose main

export is coffee

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FOOD CROPS - CORN About 10,000 years ago, Native Americans

(present day Mexico) gathered ears of wild corn for food 5000 – 3500 BC domesticated corn and raised

crops Became staple of Maya and Aztec

Spread from Mexico to NE North America Native American taught colonists on E coast

how to grow corn U.S. now leads world in corn production

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FOOD CROPS - POTATOES 2,000 years ago – potatoes began to be

cultivated in S.A. Andes Native to that area

Explorers in 1500s (Spanish & English) carried potatoes back to homelands Europeans took a while to adapt to taste

By 1700s potatoes widely grown, especially Ireland European immigrants brought potatoes to

American colonies

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DID YOU KNOW?

For 200 years after Spanish brought potatoes back to Europe, people refused to eat them? Medical experts predicted eating them would

cause leprosy or other diseases Because mis-shapen and ugly

Religious leaders thought eating them was sinful Because not mentioned in Bible

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FOOD CROPS - CACAO Cacao seeds make chocolate

Tree native to Amazon River basin Cacao played major role in Maya & Aztec

cultures Aztec believed seeds were gift from heaven

Seeds ground up to make rich beverage called xocoati (shoh*KOH*ahtl) Drink not sweet – bitter and spiced with chili

peppers 1519 – Spanish explorer Hernan Cortes served

cup by Aztec ruler Cortes brought cacao seeds back home

Spanish sweetened drink with sugar and flavored with cinnamon and vanilla Spanish kept drink a secret for 80 years

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FOOD CROPS American colonies – chocolate expensive –

only wealthy could afford 1765 – cacao seeds imported directly and cheaply

from West Indies Now average American able to afford “food of

the gods”

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CHAPTER 8: LATIN AMERICASECTION 1: THE LAND

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CHAPTER 8: LATIN AMERICASECTION 1: THE LAND

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VAST REGION Western hemisphere – S. of U.S. Land area of 8 million square miles

16% of Earth’s land surface Share heritage of settlement by Europeans

(Spain & Portugal)

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VAST REGION Divided into three areas: Middle America

Mexico & 7 countries of Central America Central America stretch of land that links landmasses

of N. and S. America Caribbean

AKA West Indies Fall into 3 groups

Bahamas Greater Antilles Lesser Antilles

South America Continent – largest land area of Latin America 13 countries

Brazil is largest in land area and population

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MOUNTAINS & PLATEAUS

Mountains begins in N. America as Rocky Mountains and extends to S. America’s southern tip Names change as you move south

Sierra Madre – Mexico Central highlands – Central America Andes – South America

Rugged landscape b/c region along Pacific Ring of Fire

Mountain’s rich natural resources Water Volcanic soil Timber minerals

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MOUNTAINS & PLATEAUS

Sierra Madre – two mountain ranges Sierra Madre Oriental (Eastern) Sierra Madre Occidental (Western)

Meet near Mexico City to form Sierra Madre del Sur (“of the south”) Surround Mexican Plateau

Covers most of central Mexico

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MOUNTAINS & PLATEAUS

Central Highlands – south of Sierra Madres Chain of volcanic mountains

Caribbean islands also part of mountain range Extends under sea bed of Caribbean Sea

Islands volcanic peaks that rise above sea level

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MOUNTAINS & PLATEAUS

Andes – South America 4,500 miles along western edge of S. America

World’s longest mountain range & highest (some peaks 20,000 feet above sea level) Cordilleras - ranges that run parallel to each other Altiplano – “high plain” – Peru and Bolvia Patagonia – S. Argentina / hills and lower flatlands

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HIGHLANDS OF BRAZIL

Mato Grosso Plateau – eastern S. America Sparsely populated plateau of forests and grasslands Spreads over most of Brazil; W. to Bolivia and Peru East of area is Brazilian Highlands

Area so vast – spans several climate and vegetation zones

E. edge of Brazilian Highlands – plateau plunges to Atlantic Escarpment – steep cliff or slope

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LOWLANDS AND PLAINS

Coastal Lowlands – wind way along Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean; hems Atlantic and Pacific coasts of S.A. Longest strip – Brazil’s Atlantic coast

NE Brazil – plain 40 miles wide; narrows as it winds S

Between Rio de Janerio and SE seaport of Santos – plain disappears

Reappear and widen near Brazils’ border with Uruguay and Argentina

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LOWLANDS AND PLAINS

S.A. – inland areas – vast grasslands Llanos of Colombia and Venezuela Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay

Provide wide grazing lands for beef cattle Ranches employ cowhands llaneros (llanos) or

gauchos (pampas) to drive cattle across terrain Major “breadbaskets” – abundance of wheat and

corn

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WATER SYSTEMS

Waterways serve as means to transport people and goods to various regions S.A. – most of region’s major rivers

Exception: Rio Grande AKA Rio Bravo del Norte (“Wild River of the North”) Forms part of border between Mexico and U.S.

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RIVERS OF SOUTH AMERICA

S.A. rivers are large Amazon – Western Hemisphere longest river

Carries 10x water volume of Mississippi River Smaller rivers join Amazon From Andes to Atlantic Rivers form Amazon Basin which drain parts of

Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela Amazon navigable

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RIVERS OF SOUTH AMERICA 2nd largest river system in Latin America

Parana, Paraguay and Uruguay Rivers Drain rainy E. half of S.A. Provide inland water routes Hydroelectric power

For Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay Flow into estuary

Area where tide meets a river current Rio de la Plata (“River of Silver”)

Meets Atlantic

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LAKES

Few large lakes World’s highest navigable lake

Lake Titicaca (TEE*tee*KAH*kah) in Andes of Bolivia and Peru 12,500 feet above sea level

Area was center of early Native American civilization Lake Maracaibo (MAH*rah*KY*boh) in Venezuela

S.A. longest lake

Area contains important oil fields Lake Nicaragua (between Nicaragua and Costa

Rica) Largest lake in Central America

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NATURAL RESOURCES

Significant natural resources Minerals, forests, farmland and water

Deposits of oil and natural gas lie in rock beds and mountain valleys Make Mexico and Venezuela leading oil produces

Mineral wealth – first mined by Native Americans Orinoco River foothills (Venezuela) – large amounts

of gold Brazil also gold Peru and Mexico – silver Colombia mines produce emeralds – over 1,000

years

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NATURAL RESOURCES

Nonprecious minerals – great economic value Chile largest exporter of copper Jamaica – source of bauxite (main ore of aluminum) Bolivia & Brazil – large reserves of tin

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CHAPTER 8: LATIN AMERICASECTION 2: CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

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CHAPTER 8: LATIN AMERICASECTION 2: CLIMATE AND VEGETATION

Terms to Know: Places to Locate:

*Canopy *Amazon Basin* Tierra caliente *Colombia• Tierra templada * Venezuela• Tierra fria * Uruguay

* Atacama Desert

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CLIMATE AND VEGETATION REGIONS

Lies between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn Vast areas of region have some form of tropical

climate Lush green vegetation

Mountain ranges and wind patters create variety of climates and natural vegetation

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CLIMATE AND VEGETATION REGIONS

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TROPICAL REGIONS

Tropical rain forest climate and vegetation dominate S. Mexico, E. Central America, some Caribbean islands and parts of S. America Hot temps and abundant rainfall occur year

around Amazon Basin – combination results from

area’s location on Equator & pattern of prevailing winds

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TROPICAL REGIONS

The Rain Forest – Part I Dense cover of rain forest (selva)

Variety of trees Tropical hardwoods, palms, tree ferns and bamboos

Board-leaf and needle-leaf evergreens grow close together

Form dense canopy Continuous layer of leaves

Soar up to 130 feet So dense - sunlight seldom reaches forest floor

Plants under canopy are shade tolerant

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TROPICAL REGIONS

The Rain Forest – Part II Amazon Basin – Earth’s largest rain forest

Covers 1/3 of South America World’s wettest tropical plain

Rain most of year - esp. January to June Large areas often flooded

Example: Brazil – river width 1-6 miles but during rainy season enlarges to 30 miles

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TROPICAL REGIONS

The Rain Forest – Part III Shelters more species of plants & animals

per square mile then anywhere on Earth Also habitat for reptiles

Snakes Boas & anacondas

Iguanas & crocodiles Freshwater fish

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TROPICAL REGIONS

Tropical Savanna Typical of SW Mexico, most Caribbean islands

& N-Central S.A. Hot temps & abundant rainfall Extended dry season

Vast grasslands Llanos of Colombia & Venezuela

Covered with scattered trees Transition zones between grasslands &

forests

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TROPICAL REGIONS

Humid Subtropics Prevails over SE S.A.

From Rio de Janeiro to Argentina’s pampas Winters short/mild Summers long, hot and humid

Occasional short dry periods Pampas – short grasses – used to have

scattered trees Farmers plant alfalfa, corn and cotton to hold

topsoil down

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DESERT & STEPPE AREAS

N. Mexico, coastal Peru & Chile, SE coast of Argentina

Chile – rain shadow effect of Andes produced Atacama Desert So arid – some areas no rainfall every recorded Vegetation is sparse

Prickly cacti & drought-resistant shrubs do grow

Parts – receive little rainfall but do not have desert climates/vegetation Steppe climates

Hot summers, cool winters and light rainfall Grassy/light forest vegetation

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ELEVATION & CLIMATE

Varied climate of Latin America affected by elevation

Spanish terms used to describe 3 different vertical climate zones Occur as elevation increases

Each zone has own natural vegetation and crops

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ELEVATION & CLIMATE

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ELEVATION & CLIMATE

• Tierra caliente – “hot land”• Elevation between sea level and 2,500

feet• Annual temps range 68 to 91 degrees• Main crops: bananas, sugar, rice, cacao

• Tierra templada – “temperate land”• Elevation between 2,500 and 6,500 feet• Annual temps range 60 and 72 degrees• Most densely populated • Coffee & corn – main crops

• Tierra fria – “cold land”• Elevation from 6,500 to 10,000 feet• Frosts common during winter months• Crops: potatoes & barley

• Above this area – conditions more difficult