Central/Middle America Miss Elliott & Mrs. Williams Shiloh Christian School Chapter 7

Scripture -10 blanks Nehemiah 9:6 Job 26:10 You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven…the earth and all things on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You preserve them all... Job 26:10 He drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters, at the boundary of light and darkness.

I. Physical Environment Central America I. Physical Environment A. Many active volcanoes, together with earthquakes have caused many natural disasters in countries located in the Rim (Ring) of Fire. B. The mountains on the mainland of Middle America are shaped like a Y. 1. Sierra Madre Occidental 2. Sierra Madre Oriental

I. Physical Environment Central America I. Physical Environment C. Most of the area has a humid tropical climate because it’s between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator. D. Middle America is part of the continent of North America. E. Mexico has more desert area than the other Middle America countries. F. The west coast of the Middle American mainland receives the least amount of rainfall in part, because of the trade winds.

II. Mexico Central America A. Explored by Spanish 1. Found the Aztecs 2. Aztecs thought the white men were gods 3. Introduced white man’s diseases and many Indians died-had no immunities built up. a. small pox b. measles *** 3 g’s of exploration a. God b. gold c. glory

II. Mexico Central America B. Spanish found great wealth-slaves were brought in from Africa C. Spanish wanted to Christianize the Aztecs-brought religion-Roman Catholic D. Variety of cultures and languages-most common language is Spanish

III. Central America Central America A. Mixed people of Spanish heritage (mestizos). B. High in oil-when oil dropped in 1980’s Mexico’s economy dangerously faced a slowdown. C. Important crops-cotton, cacao, citrus fruits, sugar cane and bananas. D. 2/3 of people work in agriculture E. Dependent on other countries for finished goods.

III. Central America Central America F. Manufacturing is not important-have oil, tourism and agriculture. G. Overall they are politically unstable. H. Panama-ruler was Manuel Noreiga and was overthrown in December of 1989. I. Two Communist countries in Middle America. 1. Cuba-leader is Fidel Castro (dictator) a. First ruled by a harsh dictator-Batista b. 1959-revolution and Fidel Castro became premiere c. Soviet Union (USSR) is a major ally

III. Central America Central America 2. Nicaragua a. 1979 a group called the Sandinistas overthrew a dictatorship b. New government had friendly ties with both Cuba and the Soviet Union c. There was still fighting going on until 1990. The Sandinistas were being challenged by a rebel group known as the Contras J. In recent years Central American governments have become more democratic-US has tried to help keep out communism

III. Central America Central America K. In 1984 US forces invaded the island country of Grenada, helping to oust the island’s communist rulers from power. L. On December 31, 1999, the Panama Canal went back to Panama control.

IV. Caribbean Islands-also called the West Indies Central America IV. Caribbean Islands-also called the West Indies A. Three groups 1. Bahamas 2. Greater Antilles 3. Lesser Antilles B. Two major US possessions 1. US Virgin Islands 2. Puerto Rico C. Europeans built plantations on the islands and also brought in a lot of Africans to work as slaves. So today you will see mostly Africans in the Caribbean Islands