1. Chapter 12
South America

3. 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

4. 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.

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Issues and challenges:
Section 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