Latin America

1. Latin America Geography, History, and Culture

2. Stretches 2,500 miles from the US border to South America Mountains dominate Mexico’s Central Plain Between Mountains Makes 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 The Physical Geography of Mexico and Central America

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

4. Panama Canal http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:42-16719625.jpg A comercial ship run through the Pedro Miguel Locks in the Pacific side.

5. 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

6. Many Types of Landforms Andes Mountains Run 1500 Miles along Western Coast Rich soil for farming Very steep Rolling Highlands – East Amazon River Basin Home to the World’s largest rain forest = 1/3 of the continent Pampas – South Large plain that stretches through Argentina and Paraguay The Physical Geography of South America

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

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

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

10. 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 Formed by the Parana, Paraguay, and Uruguay rivers Separates Argentina and Paraguay The Rivers of South America - 2

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

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

13. Tropical Wet Hot humid, rainy weather all year round 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 here Patagonia Arid and cold Sheep raised here Climate

14. Mexico tons of minerals – silver, gold, copper, coal, iron ore Large amounts of oil and natural gas Trees for lumber and paper products Central America Good climate and soil for farming Coffee, cotton, sugarcane, bananas, and cacao trees Fish and shellfish Hydroelectric power South America Oil found, esp. Venezuela Plants and fish Forests cover about ½ of the continent Rich soil – coffee and other crops flourish Caribbean Rich soil and good climate for farming Sugarcane, bananas, coffee, cacao, and citrus fruits Natural Resources

15. Not all countries have a natural resource Some countries don’t have the money to develop their resources Weather can cause problems as it can affect the supply Prices of resources can go down Plant disease can lower the amount of crop raised Oil Dependence – can be risky as prices change, natural disasters can affect supply Natural Resources and the Economy

16. 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 Copan – Honduras Tikal – Guatemala 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 Early Civilizations - Mayans

17. 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

18. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mayan_Jade_.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Palenque_Relief.jpg Relief from Palenque Mayan Jade Carving

19. 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 Helped Aztecs grow 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 Aztecs

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

21. 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 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 The Incas

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

23. 1400’s – Spain and Portugal searching for new trade routes to Asia 1492 – Columbus thought he had found India, instead he found the Americas Spain and Portugal became rivals over land in the Americas Treaty of Tordesillas Signed in 1494 through urging of the pope Line of Demarcation of 50° Longitude Spain got land West of Line Portugal got land East of Line Why Brazil is Portugal’s only colony in South America European Exploration

24. Conquistadors 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 Spain in the New World http://christianvolt.blogs.friendster.com/photos/art_exhibits/conquistadors.html Oil Painting by Alfredo P. Alcala

25. 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 surrended in 1521 Hernando Cortes

26. Hernando Cortes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Cortes-Hernando-LOC.jpg

27. 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 Francisco Pizarro http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Franciscopizarro.jpeg

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

29. 1540’s – Spain had land from Kansas 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 Spanish Colonization

30. Begin in 1810 – Miguel Hidalgo – a priest from Dolores begin planning a revolution His plan was found out by the Spanish, but he acted anyway He called for the people to take back their land from the Spaniards The revolutionaries won some battles, but by 1811 were in full retreat Hidalgo was captured and executed in 1811 for treason Some kept fighting and in 1821, the Spanish were defeated and Mexican Independence was declared Independence in Mexico

31. One of the greatest Latin America revolutionary leaders Originally joined fight for Venezuelan independence – he would become the leader By 1822 – had freed Gran Columbia (Columbia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama) and became President Simón Bolívar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Simon_Bolivar.jpg

32. Began helping with Argentina’s independence in 1817 Took his troops through the Andes in Chile and completely surprised the Spanish Declared Chile independent and then turned attention to Peru In July 1821, did another surprise attack (from the sea) and captured Lima Met up with Bolivar to discuss independence for the rest of the countries, but gave up his command Bolivar continued and by 1825 only Cuba and Puerto Rico still ruled by Spain Jose de San Martin

33. Jose de San Martin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Smartin.JPG

34. Early 1800’s, France invaded Portugal and king fled to Brazil King returned to Portugal in 1821 and left his son, Dom Pedro, in charge 1822 – Dom Pedro declared Brazil independent Portugal recognized independence 3 years later Brazil and Independence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Dompedro-II.jpg

35. 1900’s – foreign countries began investing in Latin America Foreign Companies ended up with a lot of economic power They would make money The people of Latin America did not benefit from this To improve their economic situation, they began building their own factories 1970’s things were improving 1980’s – the price of oil needed to run factories rose while the price of products dropped They had to borrow money and now were in debt Economic Issues

36. Now, Latin America countries do limit how much foreign countries can invest to avoid losing control of their economy They also trade with one another to get items that they need cheaper Economic Issues - 2