Central America and the Caribbean

Central America and the CaribbeanSection 1A. LocationCentral America is on the continent of North America.The Caribbean Islands are an archipelago in the Caribbean Sea.VocabularyArchipelago- A group of islands.

B. SubregionsThe mainland is a continent or part of a continent that is not an island.The rimland is the islands and coastal plains of Central America.

VocabularyMainland- A continent or part of a continent that is not an island.Rimland- Land, often islands and coastal plains, around the edge of an area.

MainlandC. HistoryMainland divided into large farms, or haciendas, by Spanish conquerors.Island land divided into large plantations where only one crop was grown.VocabularyHaciendas- Large farms, owned by Spanish landlords. Located on the mainland. Self-sufficient.Self-Sufficient- Able to take care of yourself.Plantations Large farms, owned by Spanish landlords. Located on the islands. Grew cash crops.Cash Crops- Crops grown and sold for money.In what way did the Spanish use the Caribbean islands? What about their location was fortunate for the Spanish?Central America and the Caribbean Video 1.

RimlandSection 2A. MainlandHigh mountains (Volcanoes) and coastal lowlands.Eastern side has thick rain forests; Pacific side has rich soil.B. RimlandMost islands are tops of dormant volcanoes.Geothermal Power from active volcanoes is used to make electricity.Some islands are atolls, made from the buildup of dead coral.VocabularyDormant- Not likely to erupt.Geothermal- Heat from volcanoes.Atolls- Non-volcanic islands made from dead coral building up.Corals- Tiny sea animals.

C. ClimateMost people in Central America live in a Highland climate.Caribbean lowlands have a tropical climate.Hurricanes bring strong winds, heavy rainfall, and huge waves.VocabularyHighland Climate- Not too hot, not too cold.Tropical Climate- Hot and humid.Navigable- Ships can travel up and down.Hurricane- Tropical storms that bring heavy rain, strong winds, and huge waves.

List 3 examples of physical features, climate or weather that the Caribbean islands share.Central America and the Caribbean Video 2.Section 3A. CultureCentral American culture is affected most by Spain.Great Britain also set up colonies in the area.Mulattos are descendents of Africans and Europeans.Africans were brought to Caribbean islands to work on plantations.VocabularySlaves- People forced to work against their will.B. ReligionMost people in the region are Christians.Voodoo is the belief that good and evil spirits affect daily life.VocabularyVoodoo- A religion, originally from Africa in which people believe that good and evil students affect daily life. Frequent in Haiti.List 3 facts you learned about Voodoo from the video.Central America and the Caribbean Video 3.C. LanguagesSpanish is spoken most often in Central America.People also speak English, French, and Creole- a mix of French and African languages.http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/american_languages.htm

VocabularyCreole- A language that is a mixture of French and African languages. Spoken in Haiti.D. Where People LiveMost people live in rural areas.El Salvador is the only country with a high population density.

VocabularyRural- Areas away from the cities.Population Density- The average number of people living in each square mile of area.E. ProblemsGreat differences between the poor and the rich.Need to develop new industries.Population growth has reduced natural resources.VocabularyCivil War- A war fought by people in the same country against each other.Communism- A type of government where the government owns everything.Birthrate- The number of people born over a period of time.

Section 4A. Natural ResourcesMajor resources of islands are good weather and much sunshine.Great resource of Central America is forests.Neither has great mineral resources.

B. Industries in Central AmericaMost economies dependant on farming.Subsistence farming provides only enough for a family.VocabularySubsistence Farming- Farmers own only enough land to grow crops for themselves.C. Industries in the CaribbeanMost people work in agriculture.Sugarcane, cacao, coconuts, and bananas are grown on plantations.D. Environmental ChallengesNative trees and plants cut down because of overdevelopment.Too many people living in areas causing water pollution.Destruction of the rainforests.VocabularyOverdevelopment- Building an area up too quickly without thinking about the environment.Extinct- when something no longer exists anywhere.What is happening to the rain forest?Central America and the Caribbean Video 4.