1. November 13, 2014
Introduction to Caribbean - Central - South America PPT / Notes

2. Central America Physical Geography
7 Countries between Mexico (in North) and Colombia (in South)
Tropical Climate
Landforms
Hills and mountains
Panama Canal
Ring of Fire
Earthquakes, Volcanoes

3. Caribbean Physical Geography
What physical process created this archipelago?
Volcanoes
What is the climate?
Tropical = Hot and Wet
What Natural Hazards threaten the islands?
Hurricanes
Earthquakes
Floods
Mudslides

4. South America Physical Geography
Amazon River
Andes Mountains
Guiana Highlands
Brazilian Highlands

5. Central America Culture and History
Colonized by Spain in 1500’s, many indigenous people (Maya, for example).
Demography
Population = 42,000,000
Largely Mestizo – Native + Spanish
Mulatto - Spanish mixed with African
Slave trade

6. Caribbean Culture and History
Region colonized by Spain, France, Great Britain, Netherlands during 1500’s
Why?
Plantation Agriculture / Columbian Exchange
Brought African Slaves for Sugar Trade
What crops did the Europeans want?
Sugar Cane, Tobacco, Coffee, Bananas
Demography – What are the people like?
Population = 38 Million
People are mixed – European, Indigenous, and African
Different cultural mixes on different islands
Results
Varied languages, religions, food

7. South America Culture and History
Spanish conquered Inca in 1500’s
Spanish and Native influences
Languages
Quechua – Inca language
Spanish
Treaty of Tordesillas (1494)
Spain and Portugal with help from the Pope split up South America
Portugal gets Brazil

8. Central America Economy
Most of the population lives in poverty
Ecotourism – a form of tourism that involves visiting protected areas.
Commercial farming
Coffee
Bananas

9. Caribbean Economy What is the economy like? Varies by island
Mostly Primary Employment Sectors
Agriculture
Mining
Fishing
Tourism is very important, especially for small islands
Informal Economy – jobs that take place outside of official channels, no taxes. Protection for workers

10. South America Economy Most are based upon Agriculture
Oil and Mineral resources
US gets more oil from South America than Middle East
Mercosur – trade agreement between South American countries

11. Central America Daily Life, Art, and Music
Natives and Spanish Influence
Spanish Language
Catholic Religion

12. Caribbean Daily Life, Art, and Music
Spanish, French, Danish, Dutch, Natives and African influences
Religions
Catholic, Voodoo, Santeria
Languages
Spanish, French, English, Dutch
Music and Dance
Calypso – combines African and Spanish elements (Steel drums)
Reggae – from Jamaica, deals with social problems and religion
Bomba in Puerto Rico
Merengue in Domincan Rep.
Mambo in Cuba

13. South America Daily Life, Art, and Music
Literature
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Nobel Prize for Literature 1982
Gabriel García Márquez was a Colombian novelist, short-story writer, screenwriter and journalist, known affectionately as Gabo throughout Latin America.
Born: March 6, 1927, Aracataca, Colombia
Died: April 17, 2014, Mexico City, Mexico
Music and Dance (Mix of native, African, and European influences)
Pop and Folk Music popular
Dance
Tango in Argentina
Samba in Brazil