1. Section 1: Natural Environments Section 2: History and Culture
CHAPTER 12
South America
Section 1: Natural Environments
Section 2: History and Culture
Section 3: South America Today

2. SECTION 1
Natural Environments
Question:
What are the different environments and landforms of South America?

3. Natural Environments SECTION 1 South America Landforms and Rivers
Climates
Andes
Guiana Highlands, tepuís
Brazilian Highlands
Amazon River basin, Llanos, Gran Chaco, Pampas
Amazon, Orinoco, Paraná Rivers
tropical humid in Amazon Basin
highland in Andes
tropical wet and dry
Mediterranean in central Chile
semiarid and arid in Patagonia, Atacama
South America
Biomes
Natural Resources
tropical rain forest
dry forest
savannas
deserts
rubber and timber
hydroelectricity production
nuts and plants for medicine
gold, silver, copper, iron ore, bauxite, oil

4. SECTION 2
History and Culture
Question:
How did the colonial period and independence affect South America?

5. Causes and Effects in South America’s History
SECTION 2
History and Culture
Causes and Effects in South America’s History
Colonization
Inca conquered,
lands taken by Europeans
European animals and agricultural products introduced,
death of indigenous people from European diseases and conquest
Independence
dictatorships supported by wealthy families,
military coups and political instability

6. SECTION 3
South America Today
Question:
What are some of the characteristics of the economy and cities, and what issues face South America today?

7. South America Today SECTION 3 Economy Cities Issues
• developing or middle income countries
• agriculture, subsistence and commercial farming
• wide range of industrial products
• Mercosur important free trade group
• large parts of each country’s population living in big cities
• rural-urban migration
• urban poor living in slums that surround the city
• crime and lack of services in these areas
• poverty
• Amazon rain forests being cleared for farming and ranching
• soil exhaustion and overgrazing threatening the land
• border disputes, terrorism, and political corruption

8. Chapter Wrap-Up CHAPTER 12
1. What are the five climate zones of the Andes, and what vegetation is found in each?
2. What are some products that come from the rain forest?
3. What were some accomplishments of early South American people?
4. How did Spanish and Portuguese settlement spread?
5. What are three factors that create tensions in South America?