Figure 3

Panama Canal & Lakes

• Built across Panama

• Allows ships to travel from Atlantic to

Pacific

• Lake Titicaca (worlds highest navigable

lake)

• Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela

Natural Resources

• Major oil & natural gas deposits in

Mexico & Venezuela

• Gold in Venezuela

• Silver in Mexico & Peru

• Copper in Chile

• Bauxite in Jamaica

Section 2

History and government in Central America and the Caribbean have been influenced by indigenous cultures, colonialism, slavery, and struggles for freedom.

History and Government

• European conquests:

– The Spanish conquered the Native Americans in the Caribbean.

– The Columbian Exchange began after Columbus’s arrival in the Americas.

– Vasco Nunez de Balboa discovered Panama, which now boasts the Panama Canal.

Section 2-GTR

A. Cuba

Central America and the Caribbean

B. Dominican Republic

C. West Indies

D. Hispaniola

E. Panama

F. Haiti

G. Puerto Rico

Section 2

History and Government (cont.)

• Gaining Independence:

– In 1804, Haiti won its independence from France.

– Other Caribbean countries were the last regions to gain independence.

– Some islands remain under foreign control today.

The pampas consist primarily of

a. deserts.

b. forests.

c. rain forests.

d. grasslands.

Llanos and Pampas are a

source of grazing cattle and

sheep.

VS 2

• The first people in the region probably came from Asia over 40,000 years ago.

• In addition to gold and silver, plants, animals, and diseases were traded between the Americas and Europe. This is known as the Columbian Exchange.

History

Section 2

History and Government (cont.)

• During the 1900s, many countries in Central America and the Caribbean experienced dramatic political, social, and economic changes:

– Panama Canal Zone is now control by Panama. The Canal allows ships to go from to the Pacifica and Atlantic Oceans

– 1959 revolution in Cuba, communist country 90 miles away from florida.

• Many Caribbean Island are Volcanic peaks

Caribbean Islands

Section 2

The culture of Central America and the Caribbean has been influenced by traditions and beliefs of indigenous peoples and colonialism.

• Language—Spanish is the primary language of Central America.

– In the Caribbean, many European languages are spoken.

– Countries in this region are predominately Catholic

Section 3-GTR

A. Ecuador

South America

B. Peru

C. Bolivia

D. Rio de Janeiro

E. Brasília

F. São Paulo

G. Buenos Aires

H. Cuzco

Section 3

South America’s population has been shaped by ethnic diversity, physical geography, migration, and urban growth.

• South America is home to an ethnically diverse population:

– Indigenous cultures

– Europeans

– Africans

– Asians • Most South Americans live on

the continent’s edges, sometimes called the “populated rim.”

• Africans first came to the Caribbean as enslaved workers.

Section 3

Population Patterns (cont.)

• About 80% of the subregion’s population is urban.

• São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Buenos Aires are among the world’s 15 largest cities.

• Many of these big cities have shanty towns built on marginal land. (destroyed by mudflows.)

• Most live on the coast

Section 3

Population Patterns (cont.)

• Many people are leaving South America due to the following:

– A search for better wages and living conditions

– A desire to escape the violence of civil war

Section 3

Indigenous civilizations, colonization, independence, and authoritarian rule have influenced South America’s history and government.

• The native American empires of Latin America were the Maya, Inca and the Aztec

• This has generated a unique blending beliefs and practices called syncretism.

Section 3

History and Government (cont.)

• Colonization—the Spanish and Portuguese were the first to colonize South America. Conquistadors were soldiers that claimed the new land for Spain.

• Independence—by the mid-1800s, most countries had achieved their independence from Europe.

• Authoritarian rule—some countries have democratic governments now, but still struggle with corrupt politics and other issues.

• Cuba was settle by the Spanish

displacing the local Indians called the

Arawak.

• America own it after the Spanish

American War in 1892 and it became

independent in 1902

• Communist took it over in 1959. Fidel

Castro .

– Currently crawling to a market economy.

You have to buy any property from the

government.

Cuba

Figure 5

• Most of the countries gained independence through violent means. The violence disrupted economies and led to instability in the region.

• Today most Latin American countries are democratic, and citizens are working to stop corruption.

Section 3

The culture of South America has been influenced by the arts, traditions, and beliefs of indigenous peoples, Europeans, and Africans. • Language—Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, and French

are spoken in different parts of the subregion.

• Religion—mainly Roman Catholic

• Carnival is celebrated in several countries before the Roman Catholic observance of Lent

Section 3

Culture (cont.)

• Family life—in urban upper and middle classes, the family is more likely to consist of a nuclear household.

• Leisure—soccer is a passion.

THE END