1. Latin America Geography and History

2. The Physical Geography of Mexico and Central America Stretches 2,500 miles from the US border to South America Mountains dominate Mexico’s Central Plain make up ½ of the country Most people live here Isthmus of Central America Connects Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea Coastal Plains Narrow Volcanic – provides good soil for farming

3. Overview of Latin America Middle America South America

4. Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, Mexico http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:DSCK0456.JPG Copper Canyon, Mexico http://www.geo-images.com/copper/divis/div2vw.jpg

5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:42-16719625.jpg The Panama Canal is a transportation corridor used to move people and products from one place to another.

6. The Physical Geography of the Caribbean Made up of two types of Islands – Skeleton and underwater Mountains Underwater Mountains People make a living from farming because soil is so good Skeleton Islands Smaller Coral – made up of skeletons of dead sea animals Cat Island, Bahamas

7. The Physical Geography of South America Many Types of Landforms Andes Mountains Run 15,000 Miles along Western Coast Rich soil for farming Very steep Rolling Highlands – East Amazon River Basin Home to the World’s largest rainforest = 1/3 of the continent Pampas – South Large plain that stretches through Argentina and Paraguay

8. Andes Mountains - between Chile and Argentina http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Andes_Chile_Argentina.jpg

9. Pampas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:CIMG5091.JPG

10. The Rivers of South America Some of the longest and largest in the world Used for transportation when roads are not available Provide fish and hydroelectric power Mouth of the Amazon River http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Amazon-river-delta-NASA.jpg

11. The Rivers of South America Amazon World’s 2nd Largest – 7,000 miles Carries 20 % of the world’s river water Has 1,000 tributaries Drains an area of more than 2 million sq miles Rio de la Plata Separates Argentina and Paraguay

12. Amazon River http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Amazon_river_basin.png

13. Rio de la Plata http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:River_Plate.jpg

14. Climate Tropical Wet Hot humid, rainy weather all year round (parts of Brazil) Rainforest will be in this area Tropical Wet and Dry Hot, rainy, but not all year Parts of Mexico, Brazil, and most of the Caribbean Humid Subtropical Similar to Southern US Crops grow well he These climates make tourism a major economic industry in Latin America.

15. Early Civilizations - Mayans Mayan Civilization and Culture In Mexico and Central America Lasted from 300- 900AD Most important crop was maize Built great cities that were also religious centers Capital city Tikal Science, Technology and Religion Hieroglyphics – system of picture writing Number system – similar to present day decimal system Mayan Priests Study the planets and stars Designed and accurate calendar

16. Mystery of the Mayans AD 900, the Mayans left their cities No one knows why Their descendants are still living in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador Palenque Ruins http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Palenque_Ruins.jpg

17. Aztecs Arrived in the Valley of Mexico in the 1100’s Found a permanent home in 1523 on an island in Lake Texacoco – city called Tenochtitlan 1400’s Aztecs conquered other people and forced them to pay a tribute. Tribute = a tax this helped them become rich. Science and Technology Aztec Doctors made over 1000 medicines from plants Astronomers predicted eclipses and the movements of the planets Priests kept records using Hieroglyphics Conquered by Hernan Cortes.

18. Aztec Calendar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Calend%C3%A1rio_Asteca.jpg

19. The Incas About 1200, they settled in Cuzco In the Andes which is now Peru Most were farmers who grew maize Got control of entire Cuzco Valley through wars Valley stretched over 2,500 Miles Conquered by Francisco Pizarro Accomplishments Cuzco center of government, trade, learning, and religion Built over 19,000 miles of roads with most over very steep mountains Increased crop production by building stone terraces into the slopes of the mountains Built aqueducts

20. Machu-Picchu Lost City of the Incas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Machu-Picchu.jpg

21. European Exploration 1400s – Spain and Portugal searching for new trade routes to Asia came to the Americas. 1492 – Columbus thought he had found India, instead he found the Americas Spain and Portugal became rivals over land in the Americas

22. Spain in the New World Conquistadors (Spanish explorers) and Land Spain would give them the right to hunt for treasure in these new lands They would give Spain one – fifth of what they found They could use ANY means to get their treasure Oil Painting by Alfredo P. Alcala http://christianvolt.blogs.friendster.com/photos/art_exhibits/conquistadors.html

23. Hernando Cortes 1519 went to Mexican Coast in search of treasure Aztec thought the Spanish were gods Moctezuma – emperor Welcomed Spanish Peace did not last He ended up being killed Spanish teamed up with an Aztec Rival Able to surround the city Aztecs surrendered in 1521

24. Francisco Pizarro Heard the tales of the wealth of the Incas 1531 set sail with 180 soldiers Captured and killed emperor 1535 – conquered most of the empire including the capital

25. Spain Conquers the Empires of Latin America Only took 15 years Had guns, cannons, and horses European diseases wiped out villages

26. Spanish Colonization 1540s – Spain had land from Kansas (US) down through South America except Brazil Three classes of people Spanish Mestizos Native Americans Spain gave its settlers the right to demand taxes or labor from the Native Americans Many died from overwork, malnutrition, and diseases Population went from 25 million in 1519 down to 3 million in 50 years