1. Latin American Human Geography

2. Latin America includes Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The name “Latin America” refers to the languages (Spanish and Portuguese, derived from Latin) spoken in this geographic region.
Because the countries south of the United States and North of the Panama Canal, do not share a physical connection with South America or cultural bond with the United States and Canada they are often considered to be a separate region called “Central America.”

3. Mexico
The region that became Mexico was originally occupied by many different native peoples. The Aztec civilization arose in central Mexico in the 1300s. Aztec culture had rich and complex mythological and religious traditions, as well as reaching remarkable architectural and artistic accomplishments. The Aztecs developed advanced methods for agriculture, irrigation, and city building. They built pyramids and canals, and grew maize, beans, and cacao.

4. Mexico
When European nations began exploration of the Western Hemisphere, Spanish Conquistadors began defeating the indigenous peoples and claiming territory for Spanish Colonies. By 1521, Hernando Cortés, his soldiers, and their native allies defeated Aztec Emperor Moctezuma (Montezuma).
The Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan held temples, palaces, gardens, and lakes. The Spanish destroyed the capital and built Mexico City in its place.

5. Mexico SANTA ANA VICENTE FOX
→ Spain ruled Mexico for 300 years. In 1821, Mexico achieved independence. Rid of the crown the country set up a republic with a constitution, however the weak government was susceptible to corrupt leaders, like Santa Ana (who served 11 terms as president and acted more like a dictator).
→ In 1929, the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, arose and helped introduce democracy. However, fraud and corruption undermined the democratic process. PRI candidates held all of the political positions. The string of PRI presidents was broken when Vincente Fox, the National Action Party candidate, was elected in the 2000 presidential election.
SANTA ANA
VICENTE FOX

6. Mexico → Mexico’s population is young and growing rapidly.
→ Movement with in the Region - Mexicans are moving to cities because they see economic opportunities there.
→ Movement out of the Region - Many workers leave Mexico for the United States in search of work. Often, they return to Mexico with savings to help improve living conditions for their families.

7. Mexico
→ Profits from oil have helped to finance development in manufacturing industries. Maquiladoras are factories where imported materials are assembled into finished goods for export, mostly to the United States.
→ Mexico is a member of NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement. This agreement is expected to create jobs for millions of people.

8. Population Pyramid of Mexico
**Stop and complete the population pyramid in your notes.**

9. Central America
→ The Mayan’s dominated southern Mexico and northern Central America. The Mayans also were skilled in mathematics and had a system of picture writing called glyphs. The Mayan people mysteriously abandoned their large cities hidden deep in the jungles of the Yucatan peninsula. Mayan ancestors and people of mixed Mayan and Spanish descent still live in Central America.

10. Central America
→ In Central America most people are of native or Spanish descent. The Spanish language is dominant in Central America and Catholicism is the major religion.
→ In Central America the main source of income is agriculture. This region produces ten percent of the world’s coffee and bananas. Trade is important because of the Panama Canal. In Central America, the population is largely rural.

11. The Caribbean
→ By the 1800s, the Spanish, French, British, Dutch, and Danish had all claimed islands, to profit from the sugar trade. When the native population began dying out European slave traders brought Africans to the Caribbean to work on sugar plantations.
→ The Spanish, French, British, Danish, and Dutch lived side by side with Africans and Native Americans. Spanish is spoken on the most populous islands in the Caribbean. French, English, and some Dutch and Danish are also spoken in the region.
→ This diverse mix has resulted in many unique forms of cultural expression that fuse elements of different cultures. For example Calypso and Reggae.

12. The Caribbean
→ Sugar cane is the Caribbean’s largest export crop. Other important export crops are bananas, citrus fruits, coffee, and spices.
→ In the Caribbean, most people live in urban areas, where they hope to find good jobs. Tourism is an important industry. Colleges and technical schools are working to prepare students for jobs, especially in agriculture and tourism.
→ The economy of the Communist nation of Cuba has suffered from limited trade and tourism. Diplomatic relations with Cuba have eased in recent years, and tourism is expected to increase.

13. Complete you Central America Assignment
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Complete you Central America Assignment

14. South America
→ The Inca established a civilization in the Andes Mountains that stretched from present-day Ecuador to central Chile. The Inca were skilled terrace farmers who built roads, temples, and forts.
→ Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro would conquer the Inca. The Inca had no written form of communication much of what we know about the Inca comes from stories passed on orally. Incan culture lives on in the region, many people still speak the Incan language Quecha.

15. South America
→ Like Mexico and Central America, most of South America was colonized by Spain. South Americans sought independence from Spain in the early 1800s. Two great leaders of the time were Simón Bolívar and José de San Martin.
→ For many colonies gaining independence from the crown does not result in a new fair government. Oligarchies (rule by a few) and Caudillos (military dictatorships) have been common in many South American countries.
→ Many people are poor. However, economic development of the region holds out the hope of improving people’s lives. Different resources, landforms, climate, and vegetation enable the region to create a variety of products.

16. Brazil
→ In 1494, the Treaty of Tordesillas gave (the largest country in Latin America) Brazil to Portugal. Sugar plantations were planted and soon Brazil became a source of wealth for Portugal.
→ Settlement occurred primarily along the coast. The Portuguese conquered the region’s tribes and put them to work on the sugar plantations. European diseases killed many of the natives. So the Portuguese brought slaves from Africa to replace them.
→ Brazil remained a Portuguese colony from 1500 to A petition signed by thousands of Brazilians asked Dom Pedro, son of Portugal’s King John, to rule Brazil. He agreed, and in September 1822, he declared Brazil’s independence.

17. Brazil
→ The Portuguese brought their language and Catholic religion with them. Brazil today has the largest Catholic population in the world.
→ The most colorful feast day in Brazil is Carnival. Celebrations take place to the music of the samba, a Brazilian dance with African influences. Capoeira is a martial art and dance that developed in Brazil from African origins.

18. Brazil
→ Brazil has many natural resources including deposits of iron ore, bauxite, tin, manganese, gold, silver, and titanium. Power plants along Brazil’s many rivers produce electricity. Brazil also has large reserves of oil and natural gas. Brazil is one of the most industrialized nations in South America.
→ Poverty is a problem in Brazil. Growing urbanization reflects people’s desires to improve their lives. Slums called favelas dot the hillsides. Crime and drug abuse are common. Recently, government officials have launched programs to bring in electrical power, paved streets, and sewers.

19. Complete your South America Assignment
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Complete your South America Assignment