Unit 5: Cultural Geography of Latin America

2009 Population – 568,000, Population – 568,000,000 White/Caucasian 36.1% White/Caucasian 36.1% Mestizo 30.3% Mestizo 30.3% Mulatto20.3% Mulatto20.3% American Indian 9.2% American Indian 9.2% Black/African American 3.2% Black/African American 3.2% 75% of population lives in urban areas 75% of population lives in urban areas Population

Language Spanish is the dominant language Spanish is the dominant language Portuguese is the second most common language Portuguese is the second most common language A wide variety of indigenous languages, Dutch, English, and French are also spoken A wide variety of indigenous languages, Dutch, English, and French are also spoken

Christian –78.4% Christian –78.4% Catholic – 71% Catholic – 71% Protestant –6.4% Protestant –6.4% Indigenous/tribal, Muslim, Indigenous/tribal, Muslim, Atheist, agnostic, no particular belief, Atheist, agnostic, no particular belief, other – 21.6% other – 21.6% Religion

Society Income Income Per capita income varies widely from country to country Per capita income varies widely from country to country Many Latin Americans live subsistence lives Many Latin Americans live subsistence lives Poverty rates are very high, especially in urban areas Poverty rates are very high, especially in urban areas

Favela in Caracas, Venezuela

Favela in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Slums of Mexico City

History Native Americans Native Americans Maya, Aztec (Mexico) Maya, Aztec (Mexico) Inca (Peru) Inca (Peru) many other indigenous peoples scattered throughout Latin America many other indigenous peoples scattered throughout Latin America

Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico

Machu Pichu, Peru

Immigrants Immigrants Spain Spain Portugal Portugal Africa Africa France France Netherlands Netherlands European conquest European conquest Colonial period (1492-present) Colonial period (1492-present) Independence movements/revolutions (early 1800s) Independence movements/revolutions (early 1800s)

Government Most Latin American nations have some form of democratic and/or republican government Most Latin American nations have some form of democratic and/or republican government Most nations are dominated by a single political party; other parties come and go and vary in significance Most nations are dominated by a single political party; other parties come and go and vary in significance Strong military influence in government Strong military influence in government Military coup d'état (illegal takeover) not uncommon Military coup d'état (illegal takeover) not uncommon

Economy Free market/free enterprise Free market/free enterprise Subsistence farmers Subsistence farmers High urban poverty rates High urban poverty rates Brazil ranks 8 th in national GDP; Mexico is 14 th Brazil ranks 8 th in national GDP; Mexico is 14 th Haiti is the poorest country in Latin America; its per capita GDP is $1,255 Haiti is the poorest country in Latin America; its per capita GDP is $1,255

National currencies include the peso, dollar, Euro, nuevo sol, real National currencies include the peso, dollar, Euro, nuevo sol, real Agriculture – coffee, sugar, soybeans, cocoa, rice, corn Agriculture – coffee, sugar, soybeans, cocoa, rice, corn Manufacturing – petroleum, food products, building materials Manufacturing – petroleum, food products, building materials Tourism – Caribbean, Angel Falls, Machu Pichu, Rio de Janeiro (Carnaval) Tourism – Caribbean, Angel Falls, Machu Pichu, Rio de Janeiro (Carnaval)

Art Visual Art Visual Art Folk art – much indigenous art is sold to tourists Folk art – much indigenous art is sold to tourists Mexican Muralist Movement (1930s) Mexican Muralist Movement (1930s) Diego Rivera Diego Rivera José Orozco José Orozco David Siqueiros David Siqueiros

José Orozco

Diego Rivera

Architecture Colonial and early republic styles were heavily influenced by European architecture Colonial and early republic styles were heavily influenced by European architecture Oscar Niemeyer Oscar Niemeyer Brazilian architect who designed the government buildings in Brasilia (1950s) Brazilian architect who designed the government buildings in Brasilia (1950s)

Museum of Contemporary Art, Niterói, Brazil

Congress Building, Brasilia, Brazil

National Cathedral, Brasilia, Brazil

Music Habanera – Cuba, mid-1800s Habanera – Cuba, mid-1800s Samba – Brazil, c.1900 Samba – Brazil, c.1900 Calypso – Trinidad, early 1900s Calypso – Trinidad, early 1900s Conjunto/Norteño – Mexico, 1950s Conjunto/Norteño – Mexico, 1950s Bossa Nova – Brazil, 1950s Bossa Nova – Brazil, 1950s Salsa – Cuba, 1960s Salsa – Cuba, 1960s Reggae – Jamaica, 1960s Reggae – Jamaica, 1960s

Conjunto (Mexico)