Central America

Central America

CHAPTER 11Middle America

Latin America

Different cultural region from US and Canada

2 sub regions of Latin America: Middle America and South America

Latin people speak languages that descended from Latin Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French

Middle America

Consists of nations and islands that lie between the US and South America

Called a Land Bridge btw North America and South AmericaMexicoCentral AmericaThe West Indies

I. Mexico

Largest Spanish speaking populationPop. Exceeds all other middle America

countries combined Second largest city in the world

Map of Mexico

Points of InterestBaja CaliforniaSea of Cortes/

Gulf of CaliforniaYucatan

PeninsulaMountains: Sierra

Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental

Chihuahuan Desert

Copper Canyon

Copper Canyon

Cities in N. Mexico Most people live in the South A few Northern cities

Tijuana and Juarez- large border townsMonterrey- ultra modern city, 150 miles south of

border

Northern Mexico

Hot and dry climate Desert and semiarid

grasslands dominate Irrigation allows some farming

to exist Cattle ranching is common

American cowboys patterned their clothing, skills and gear after Mexican Vaqueros

Mexico City Largest city in North America Bad location: mountains trap

pollution, active earthquake area, chain of volcanoes along s. edge of the city

Strong Roman Catholic cultureOur Lady of the Guadalupe-

most visited Catholic landmark besides the Vatican

Shrine of Our Lady of the Guadalupe

Trade Relations

NAFTA- North American Free Trade AgreementBetween US, Canada and MexicoSigned in 19932nd largest free trade zone, behind EUControversial treaty for all 3 countries

CAFTA- Central American Free Trade AgreementIn process– signed by US and 6 Central

American countries

Aztecs Ingenious builders City: Tenochtitlan Temple to the Sun God (Quetzalcoatl)

where they performed human sacrifices Conquered in 1519 by Cortes and

neighboring tribes

Mayans Ancient Mayan Indians built massive cities and

pyramids in southern jungles of Mexico Most famous because of written records Had accurate calendars helped decipher their

hieroglyphics About 2 million descendants still live in Central

America Built Chichen Itza, most famous Mayan ruin

Has more than 100 structures 75 ft high pyramidTemple of the Warriors

Chichen Itza

II. Central America

Isthmus- narrow land bridge- connects Mexico with South America

7 small countries in this region– all 7 would fit in Texas Guatemala Belize El Salvador Honduras Nicaragua Costa Rica Panama

>Lands of the Maya

CA Countries Guatemala-

largest population and largest city in CA: Guatemala City

Belize- settled by the British, member of

British commonwealth (like Canada)smallest population in Central

America highest black population in CA-

descendants of slaves brought to work on plantations

home of the Belize Barrier Reef

CA Countries

El Salvador- famous for volcanoes (24+)San Salvador- large metropolitan

area, only touches Pacific Ocean Honduras-

most people are peasants and live in one room bamboo homes called ranchos

90% mestizo (mixed Indian and Spanish ancestry)

“banana republic”: politically unstable country, dependent on limited agriculture

CA Countries Nicaragua-

Lake Nicaragua has world’s only freshwater sharks

largest country in CA, stifled economy due to political divisions,

fell to communism in 1979 and finally became free in 1989

Costa Rica- “rich coast”, highest per capita GDP in CAcoffee and bananas- biggest exportsBest education, sanitation, health care

and public services of any CA country 95% of landowners are direct

descendants of early Spanish settlers—still farming the same, efficient way

CA Countries

Panama-○ most developed of CA countries, ○ 2nd highest per capita GDP due

to Panama Canal and related jobs,

○ “Crossroads of the World”, ○ US had control of the canal until

1999

Panama Canal – (video)

III. West Indies Columbus discovered islands in

1492, landing in the Bahamas first and then Cuba and Hispaniola- thought he was in India

Between Florida and the N. coast of South America are about 1000 islands

Combined these make up the West Indies3 Groups

○ Bahamas○ Greater Antilles○ Lesser Antilles

The Bahamas Formed from coral rather than volcanic lava No mountains, no good soil but high standard of

living Spanish didn’t think they were important, British

founded a colony Now independent member of British

Commonwealth Fishing was the main industry in past, now

tourism thrives Capital: Nassau on the island of New

Providence

Greater Antilles Made up of Cuba, Hispaniola,

Jamaica and Puerto Rico Islands are the crest of an

underwater mountain range Spanish settled these areas and

produced mainly sugar cane Most people on Jamaica and

Hispaniola are descendants of slaves brought to the plantations

The people of Cuba and Puerto Rico are predominantly of Spanish heritage

Cuba Slightly larger than Tennessee Largest and most populous in West Indies US still controls Guantanamo Bay- naval base Fell to Fidel Castro in 1950, first communist government in

Western Hemisphere Havana: capital city

HispaniolaHaiti and the Dominican Republic

Two countries occupy the island of Hispaniola Haiti- western half, poorest country in Western

Hemisphere, voodoo beliefs create problems, speak Creole

Dominican Republic- eastern side, blend of customs of Africa and Spain

Jamaica Spanish colony for 150 yrs, then British

conquered 95% of pop. Today are descendants of slaves

brought in to work on sugar plantations Religion: Roman Catholic, Protestant and

Rastafarian Independent in 1962

Puerto Rico Commonwealth of the United States since 1951 U.S. citizens with most of the privileges of other

Americans (cannot vote in Presidential elections) Some support for becoming the 51st state Manufacturing is main source of income

Lesser Antilles Form the Eastern boundary of

the Caribbean Sea Two outlying, independent

countries in the Lesser Antilles: Trinidad and TobagoBarbados

In the NorthIncludes: Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Independent countries: St. Kitts

and Nevis, Antigua, Barbuda In the South

Suffer from hurricanesMartinique, St. Lucia, Grenada

Haiti’s Earthquake•80% of the population in Haiti is living under the poverty line.• Most Haitians live on less than $2 a day.• The quake struck on January 12, 2010 at 4:53 p.m.• The 7.0 magnitude quake's epicenter hit just 10 miles west of Porte-au-Prince and its 2 million inhabitants

Haiti’s Earthquake

Before

After