Chapter 12 South America

Landforms and rivers: Section 1 Natural Environments South America has major mountains and plains. Mountains—Andes, Guiana Highlands, Brazilian Highlands Plains—Amazon River basin, Llanos, Gran Chaco, Pampas, Patagonia Three large river systems flow into the Atlantic Ocean. Amazon—4,000 miles long Orinoco—drains the Guiana Highlands and Llanos Paraná—drains eastern slopes of Andes and Brazilian Highlands

Climates, plants, and animals: Section 1 Natural Environments Climates, plants, and animals: South America has a wide variety of climate regions. Amazon basin—world’s largest tropical humid region; many rain forest species highland climates in Andes—varied vegetation, wildlife tropical wet and dry—various areas; dry forest or savannas Chile—Mediterranean and marine west coast Patagonia—semiarid and arid; few animals. driest region—Atacama Desert of northern Chile, southern Peru.

South America’s natural resources: Section 1 Natural Environments South America’s natural resources: fertile soils water for irrigation and hydroelectric power forest products vast mineral wealth—gold, silver, copper, iron ore, bauxite, emeralds energy—oil deposits in Venezuela and other countries, including tar sands

Early history: Section 2 History and Culture First inhabitants arrived more than 12,000 years ago. (natives) Farming was about 5,000 years ago. Various early civilizations arose. (Inca) Decline in population during colonialism. Spanish conquered the Inca (Francisco Pizzarro) Portuguese settled in 1530 in Eastern Brazil. Spain and Portugal divided the continent: Spain in the west, Portugal in the east. Colonists brought new plants, animals, and diseases. (Columbian Exchange) Portuguese brought slave labor to Brazil to work sugar plantations.

The Columbian Exchange Introduced to Europe Plants: Corn, Potatoes, Chilies, Sweet Potatoes, and Tomatoes; also plant products such as chocolate Introduced to the America’s Animals: Horses, Pigs, Sheep, Goats, Cattle. Plants: Sugarcane, Coffee, Grains such as wheat and rice; Peaches, Oranges, Bananas, Onions, Yams, and Pears Diseases: Small Pox, etc

Effects of the colonial era and independence: World Geography Today 4/19/2018 Effects of the colonial era and independence: After independence (1810–1830), new nations were still ruled by wealthy elite. Countries remained isolated from each other. Some Major Cities lie High in Andean Valleys, La Paz, Bogota, Quito Borders mirrored colonial divisions. Life for most people changed little after independence. Governments often changed through violent coups. Chapter 12

Cultural features: Section 2 History and Culture great ethnic variety—mixed-race, European, S.American Indian (Bolivia), African, east Indian, Japanese language—reflects colonization; Indian languages still spoken (Spanish, Portuguese) religion—majority Roman Catholic; also Hinduism, Islam, other religions traditional culture, despite change

Economy: Section 3 South America Today LDC’s or middle-income nations agriculture—ranges from subsistence to large-scale commercial industry—including products for local market and export manufactures Mercosur—effort to expand trade and cooperation

Urban environments: Section 3 South America Today Major cities are huge compared with other cities. Urban life is often hard for rural migrants. many large slums

Issues and challenges: Section 3 South America Today Issues and challenges: reducing poverty high birthrates environmental problems—rain forest destruction, soil exhaustion political disputes over borders and resources violence and terrorism, often linked to drug trade