5 Themes of Geography for the Caribbean

LOCATION Relative: The Caribbean is directly south of the USA, east of Mexico, and directly north of central America. The Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and Atlantic Ocean all surround the region. Exact: 11° N to 26°N and from 58°W to 88°W

PLACE (8) Physical: - most of the forests are gone due to deforestation -has mammals, birds, plants, reptiles like jaguars and toucans, -has deciduous and tropical rain forests -grows sugar cane, oranges to make orange concentration  

PLACE (physical continued) -bad living conditions, poor water and sewage lines -Caribbean Sea connects all the states -the temperature of the sea ranges from 73-84 degrees -most of the region has a tropical, wet climate -there are arid zones in the rain shadow of the Antillean Mountains

PLACE (continued) (11)Human: -has a decline in fertility rate due to educated women and birth control -has socialism -men are absent for a period of time and women run the markets -many people are educated and have high literacy rates -mortality rates are high due to inhuman treatment, disease, and malnutrition -tourism helps bring in money to the islands

PLACE (human continued) -some religious groups are Macuba, Candomble, Voodoo, and Umbanda -some dominant languages are Spanish, French, English, and Dutch -for transportation people may use jeeps, or walk on foot -have Africans, Asians, Indians, Amerindians, and some people from European colonies in the Caribbean -there was a sudden surge of urbanization, which filled ranks in the informal sector and created squatter settlements

MOVEMENT (11) People: Asian immigration to Caribbean freed slaves that stayed-more than 1/3 of population is of Asian decent Communities of runaway slaves; maroons Chain migration- a family member moves to another country and sends for their family one at a time when he or she has saved enough money Circular Migration- a family member leaves their family to work in another country then bring it home later Tourism-many north Americans travel to the Caribbean during the winter to escape the cold

MOVEMENT (people continued) Volcanic Destruction is a factor that is moving people Economic opportunities- emigration to other Caribbean islands Carbonization Most people still get around by foot, bicycle or public transportation Hurricanes- people move to other parts of country if their old location is in danger from hurricanes Flow of Americans to the Caribbean due to African diasporas The movement of US Marines into Haiti to settle political unrest in 1915

MOVEMENT (continued) (7) Ideas Creolization- Cultures blending and creating new languages such as Papiamento and French Creole. Music- the movement of African and European music to the Caribbean resulted in the creation of modern Caribbean music Language- the dominant languages in Caribbean are Spanish, French, English, and Dutch Neocolonialism- the U.S. asserts its control over the Caribbean both directly and indirectly African religion spread to thee Caribbean and are still practiced there

MOVEMENT (Ideas continued) AIDS education programs and an effective screening and reporting system for the disease have apparently kept the infection rate of AIDS down in CUBA House yards- in the Lesser Antilles typifies the blending of rural subsistence, economic survival, and a matriarchal social structure Mono-crop production under a plantation system that concentrated land in the hand of the elite families

MOVEMENT (continued) Goods Sugar: it made the meager and bland diets of ordinary people tolerable, and boosted calorie intake Bananas: connects Caribbean with the global market and many countries have become dependent on bananas export Rimland states: Belize and Guiana produce a great amount of citrus Free trade zones: goods are assembled in one country tax free, then shipped overseas to be sold in another country

Interactions Between Humans & the Environment (4) Change -Europeans cut down Caribbean forest to make room for sugar cane growing & providing fuel necessary to turn cane juice into sugar and provide lumber for housing, fences, and ships Mangrove swamps were made to make beaches Several dams were built on islands to help supply water to people They built national parks to provide people with wildlife awareness

Interactions Between Humans & the Environment (6) Adapt Because the soil easily eroded & didn’t produce good harvests, they developed two strategies: 1. clear new land, abandon old land 2. conserve soil and maintain fertility Residents of Montserrat had to evacuate at certain times due to volcanic activity In Aruba, Bonaire, Curaao, Anguilla, Cayman Islands had low soils & sparse vegetation (arid areas). The dry climate couldn’t support agriculture so people produces salts & raised goats Savannas have fertile soil which are good for farming Lime stones based in Cuba provide people with fertile red clay soil The citizens must be careful when drinking water because of the contamination levels

REGION (5) Physical -Lesser Antilles- are a double arc of small islands stretching from the Virgin Islands to Trinidad -Greater Antilles- are made up of the four large islands of Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and Puerto Rico ~ the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles make up the Antillean Islands -Rimlands- are defined as the costal zone of the mainland; this includes Belize and extending down the coast along Central and Northern South America -The Caribbean Sea- is a body of water enclosed by the Antillean Islands -Tropical Savannas and Mangroves- are both important biomes found throughout the Caribbean, savannas are fertile and easily adapt to agriculture, and the mangroves are a marine habitat and protect from the erosion of the coasts

REGION (continued) (4) Political Colonialism- some islands (mainly in the Lesser Antilles) have mother nations that have political and economic power over the island Neocolonialism- the United States had the indirect economic and political power over the weaker Caribbean countries after the Monroe Doctrine was issued Independence- many colonies in the Caribbean gained independence from their colonial power to establish their own democratic principles Dependency- territories are divided amongst their politics, for example, Puerto Rico is half Caribbean, half Unites States

REGION (continued) (2) Cultural Creolization- is the blending of African, European and some Amerindian cultural elements into a unique socio-cultural system found in the Caribbean Plantation America- extends midway up the coast of Brazil through the Guianas and the Caribbean into Southeastern United States. In the costal zone, European owned plantations, worked by African laborers, produce agricultural products for export

REGION (continued) (5) Economic Urbanization- 60% of the Caribbean is urban Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)- is a regional trade organization that includes former English Colonies. The organizations has regional industrial plans along with the formation of the Caribbean Development Bank to assist poorer states Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTTA)- is a hemispheric trade association that includes Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean (minus Cuba) American Backyard- the United States maintains a proprietary attitude toward the Caribbean, controlling the Caribbean through neocolonialism Isolated Proximity- Caribbean States are positioned close to North America and is economically dependent upon the region. The isolation of the Caribbean fosters strong loyalties and locality and limited economic opportunity

THE END Buffalo Soldier Bob Marley Thank You for Watching Let’s take a field trip to the Caribbean Now ! Kavalow-Huie is the COOLEST teacher : )