Unit 3: Latin America

Human Geography of Latin America

Mexico

Colonialism and Independence

• Mexico was originally occupied by native peoples including the – Toltecs– Maya– Aztecs

• Spanish Conquest– 1519 – Cortes takes over

Colonialism and Independence

• Mexico was under control of the Spanish empire

• Resources:– Gold, silver

• Gained independence in 1821 under Agustin de Iturbide, who proclaimed he was emperor over the new country

Colonialism and Independence

• Things changed later in the century:– Benito Juarez led reforms, became president– Separation of church and state– Educational opportunities– Distribution of land

• Change (both positive and negative) continued through the 20th century

Colonialism and Independence

• One-Party Rule– 1929: Institutional

Revolutionary Party (PRI)– Introduced democracy and

gave much political stability to the country

– Eventually fell apart due to corruption• WHY???

A Meeting of Cultures

• Aztecs and Spanish– Capital: Tenochtitlan– Beautiful temples, palaces, gardens, lakes, canals– Spanish destroyed most of the capital, replaced it

with Mexico City– Spanish brought language and religion

A Meeting of Cultures• Mexican Painters– Long heritage of art and architecture– Public art became common in the 1900s – Jose Orozco, Diego Rivera, Juan O’Gorman– Blend of European and Native styles/influence

A Meeting of Cultures

• Architecture– Native Americans

constructed large, ornate temples

– Spanish built beautiful cathedrals

Economics• Issues: – Gap between rich and poor– Needs to modernize their economy to compete

with 1st world countries

Economics• Population in the cities– More people are moving to the cities for

opportunities

Economics

• Oil and Manufacturing– Gulf of Mexico and

oil reserves– $$$ from oil has

helped to pay for development

– Maquiladoras– NAFTA

Life Today

• Emigration– Good or bad?

• Work and Education– Job shortages due to population increases– More children attending school– Education the key to equality and raising people

out of poverty?

Central America and the Caribbean

Native and Colonial Central America• Cultural Hearth-origins of specific ideas– Heartland/place of origin of a major culture

• Mayan empire originated here– No idea why they disappeared/left– Built cities and temples– Ruled by a god-king– Center for religious ceremony and trade

Native and Colonial Central America

• Spanish conquered the Aztecs and then moved into Central America– Held control into the 1800s

• United Provinces of Central America (freedom from Mexican/Spanish control)

• By late 1830s, United Provinces had divided into separate nations

Native and Colonial Caribbean

• Caribbean was settled and ruled over by multiple European countries

• This colonization started with Christopher Columbus’s discovery of the Caribbean in 1492

Native and Colonial Caribbean• Colonization was brutal on the natives– Forced labor– Very poor treatment– Disease – Death

• To replace the dwindling native workforce, Spanish brought in African slaves

Caribbean Independence• Independence movement in Latin

America started with a slave revolt in Caribbean– Haiti– 18th century

• 1790s Toussaint L’Ouverture led the rebellion and took over the government

• By 1804 Haiti had achieved independence– Other islands began earning

independence after

Cultural Blends

• Central America– Native American, Spanish– Language, religion– Land use

• Caribbean– African, Native American, various European influences– Slavery left a legacy– Catholic and Protestant, Vodoo, Rastafarianism– Spanish, French, English, Dutch, Danish

Economics• Farming and Trade– Sugar cane– Bananas, citrus fruits– Coffee– Spices– Commercial farming on plantations

Economics

• Where do people live?– 30-40 million people– Rural areas due to agricultural

economies– Urban areas: jobs in tourism

Culture, Tourism, Jobs• Music– Reggae, calypso

• Calypso is a blend of African, Spanish, and Caribbean influences

• Tourism– High unemployment due to more people moving to

cities for jobs– Tourism is one of the most important industries– Informal economy-takes place outside official channels

• Street vending, shining shoes

Spanish Speaking South America

Conquest and End of Spanish Rule

• Inca– Andes Mountains of Peru– Advanced Civilization– Expanded their empire

by conquering other tribes

– By 1500: empire extended 2,500 miles.

– Built over 20,000 miles of road

Conquest and End of Spanish Rule

• Spanish Conquest– Wanted gold and silver that existed in Inca empire– Forced natives to work in mines, farms, ranches– Spain passed laws to protect natives, didn’t work in

practice– Inca families destroyed because they were forced

out of their cities and on to plantations– Quechua language was damaged due to Spanish

being dominant language, but today many Inca still speak it

Conquest and End of Spanish Rule

• Independence Movements– First half of 19th century – Simon Bolivar, Jose de San Martin• Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia • Argentina, Chile, Peru

Conquest and End of Spanish Rule

• Government– Oligarchy and military rule

existed prior to independence

– Authoritarian rule existed for some time before democracy

– Many issues exist still today

Culture

• Literature– Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Colombia

• Music– Popular music and folk music– Drums, guitars, marimbas, maracas, flutes– Indian, African, European blend

• Arts– Craftwork– Pottery, textiles, glasswork, metal

Economics

• Wide variety of products based on country’s climate and resources:– North: crops and oil– West: fishing, minerals– South: grain, livestock, soybeans, cotton

Education

• Literacy rates• Strong support for higher education• Some countries, like Chile, have laws in place

to encourage education. • Turmoil and political unrest often disrupt

education.

Brazil

History• Colonization of South America was done

through Spain and Portugal– Treaty of Tordesillas• Portugal gained control over land that became Brazil• Spain gained control over other areas

History

• Brazil’s indigenous people made up hundreds of tribes and shared multiple language groups.

• Portuguese interests in Brazil were for gold and silver, neither could be found.– Instead: cleared land to set

up sugar plantations

History

• Portuguese used the natives to work on the plantations– When disease killed many,

they brought African slaves to the area

• Independence:– Colony: 1500-1822– Brazilians pushed for

independence through petition and finally the nation became free.

Culture

• Large amount of immigrants means a variety of cultural influences

• Catholic religion• Unique architecture

Economics• Industrial power– Abundant minerals– Natural gas– Electricity

(hydropower) – Automobile industry

Economics

• Migration (urban)– Big gap between rich and

poor– Many people have moved

to the cities in the hopes of job opportunities• Does this always work out?

Economics

• Migration (rural)– Many moved into the interior to develop

resources– Fertile grasslands provide great areas for farming

and grazing

Life Today

• Carnival-colorful feast day– Floats, music,

party in the streets

• Dance: samba• Capoeira-

martial art and dance