CENTRAL AMERICA and the CARIBBEAN ISLANDS

Isthmus – a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas

Central America: History 1st : Native Americans (Mayan & Aztecs) 2nd : Spain’s colonization (300 yrs) 3rd : Independence from Spain (1800s)

Conquistadors: men from Spain who conquered “New World” Cortez --- great explorer or villain?

PANAMA CANAL cuts through Panama IMPORTANT FOR WORLD TRADE

Panama Canal Connects Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, allows ships to pass through Panama, saving time and money

Central America: Economy 2/3 of Central Americans = poor laborers Main Exports: cash crops (ex. Coffee, bananas) Lots of subsistence farming

The two forms of farming that make up the base of Central America’s economies are Slash and Burn Terraced Farming

Terraced farming - technique for growing crops on a mountainside or hilltop. The Incas and the Aztecs practiced this.

Central America: Recent History ---Dictators and the rich controlled Central America ---Government fights their own farmers and poor people ---Now, more democracy, but the rich still own most land Victims of government backed death squads in El Salvador , 1980s

Another name for the islands in the Caribbean Sea is the West Indies

The Caribbean music created by enslaved Africans which uses the strong rhythms of steel drums is called Calypso

The largest island in the Caribbean is Cuba

Communist dictatorship Cuba’s government is a Communist dictatorship

Raul Castro takes over from his brother Fidel

Puerto Rico became part of the U.S.A. in 1898