HistoryThe Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) gave

Portugal complete control over Brazil.It was originally home to native people.It became a source of wealth for

Portugal because of the demand for sugar.

Today Brazilians are a mix of European, African, and native ancestry.

About 200,000 people live in Brazil.There are large amounts of people

from Portugal, Germany, Italy, and Spain.

It also has the largest population of Japanese outside Japan.

The Portuguese brought their language and their catholic religion.

20% of the population is catholic.

Migration to the cities • Brazil remains a

country with a vast gap

between the rich and the

poor.

• In 1960, about 22

percent of the population

lived in the cities.

• By 1995, more than 75

percent of the people

lived in cities.

Has deposits of iron and bauxite and supplies of gold, silver, titanium, chromite, tungsten, and quartz.

More than a thousand rivers flow through Brazil, such as the Amazon.

It is the leading maker of automobiles.There is a huge difference between the

rich and poor, yet its economy is great.

Brazilian Life Today• Carnival is the most colorful feast day

in Brazil.

•Samba is what Brazilians dance and

listen to.

• Capoeira is a martial art and dance

developed in Brazil.

• Brasília is the political capital, São

Paulo is the economic heart and

largest city, and Rio de Janeiro is the

cultural center.

• Rio de Janeiro is full of breathtaking

sights, like Sugarloaf Mountain.

IntroductionForms an isthmusDivides two oceans -this resource has

attracted the region to the United States and other major world resources.

A cultural hearth- a place from which important ideas spread.

A crossroads of world trade

• Mayan built a great civilization in the area that spread throughout the region.• Maya’s homeland stretched from southern Mexico into northern Central America.Mayan Influence• Cities w/ temples: Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras-Independent states ruled by a god-king-Served as a center for religious ceremony and trade• Tikal- one of the greatest cities in Central America-its pyramids were among the tallest structures in the world until the 20th century.

The Spanish in Central AmericaThe Spanish controlled Central America.Spain ruled until the 19th century.1821- Spanish declares independence

from SpainWhole region declares independence from

Mexico in 1823 and becomes the United Provinces of Central America.

1830- united provinces split into separate nations

Caribbean InfluencesNatives (“Indians”) called themselves the Taino.The Spanish settled in some of the islands- Established sugar plantationsSpanish forced Taino to do labor in sugar

plantations- Some Natives died from diseases &

mistreatmentA Colonial Mosaic19th century- the Spanish, French, British, Dutch

& Danish claimed islands in the Caribbean.Europeans profited from sugar trade.

Caribbean IndependenceFirst independence movement began as a slave

revolt in the island of Haiti.Africans brought to the islands were forced to

work on sugar plantations and other plantations.1709’s- Toussaint L’Ouverture led a slave

rebellion in Haiti.Haiti achieved independence in 1804.Cuba achieved independence from Spain in 1898.In 1902 the island became self-governing.Jamaica, Tobago, & Trinidad gained

independence until 1962.

Culture of Central AmericaDominant language is SpanishReligion- mostly CatholicThe Spanish took the land away from the Natives.Spanish way off life after conquering: -cut down forests, opened up land, introduced new crops, created large farms & ranches, built townsCulture of the Caribbean Residents of the island are Europeans, African mixed

ancestry.Catholic, Protestant, Santeria, Voodoo, RastafarianismCuba & the Dominican Republic are Spanish speaking

islands.French speakers are mostly in Haiti.English is spoken in Jamaica.

Farming & TradeCrops-sugar cane plantations(region’s largest export crops)-bananas, citrus fruits, coffee, spiceswork is mostly on plantations that grow crops-pay is poor(per-capita income is very low)Source of income is commercial farming-10% of world’s coffee and bananasResources for exports are mines & forestsWhere People Live and WhyTrade is made through the Panama Canal.Most people make their living on farms & live in rural

areas.Most populated island- Cuba w/ eleven million people.

Music of the CaribbeanCalypso (combines musical elements from Africa,

Spain, & the Caribbean)Reggae (songs deal w/ social problems &religion)Tourism & the Informal EconomyPopulation growth is contributing to high

unemployment-most people move in rural areas and cities in search

of jobsTourism is an important industry for local

residents to find jobs.Jobs are found in the informal economy- takes

place out side official channels without benefits or protections for workers.

Conquest at the end of Spanish RuleThe Inca

Inca’s built their empire on the foundation of earlier cultures.

Had tribes under their control and built great empires.

By 1500, the Inca empire extended 2,500 miles along the west coast of South America.

A road system about 20,000 miles long crossed mountains and deserts to link the empire.

Pizarro and his soldiers invaded and conquered the Inca empire.

The Spanish landlords received the rights to the labor of the natives from officials in Spain, who passed laws to protect the Indians.

Many of the settlers abused the natives or worked them to death.

The Quechua language of the Inca was overshadowed by Spanish as the settlers became the dominant culture.

The presence of the Spanish disrupted and destroyed Inca families and communities, and made the region difficult to govern.

The Inca religion of the native peoples was replaced by the Catholic Religion of the conquerors as the official religion

Inspired by the American Revolution and the French Revolution, the countries of South America sought their independence from Spain in the first half of the 19th century.

Bolivar helped to liberate the countries of Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia.

Jose de San Martin helped to free the countries Argentina, Chile, and Peru from Spanish rule.

Once Argentina and Chile independence was achieved geography contributed to the failure of various countries to unify or work together for common goals.

Oligarchy and military rule have distinguish the governments of many of the countries of South America since they won their independence from Spain.

Literature Spanish-Speaking South America has a strong Literary

heritage. South American writers claimed the world’s attention with

their extraordinary novels.Music In south America, you hear street music everywhere

throughout the region. Many cities in south America have symphony orchestras and

opera companies.Arts and Crafts Beautiful craftwork and handmade items can be found

throughout Latin America. Many handmade items are decorated with fork art or Indian

religious symbols. Indian weavers, made ponchos from the wool of the animals;

from llamas and alpacas.

Economies of the Region:One of the advantages in the region is that it

produces a wide variety of products. Peru has an important fishing industry.Bolivia has deposits of tin, zinc, and copper.Uruguay has major farming and grazing areas. Paraguay exports products such as soybeans,

cotton, and animal hides. Chile success StoryChile participated in the global economy.Chile has been a leader in working for economic

cooperation in the region, where it is an associate member of Mercosur.

Literacy in South America:South America has higher literacy rates than the

countries of Central America and the Caribbean, or Mexico and Brazil.

They are about 90% higher.Women's literacy is slightly higher than the men’s.The Case of ChileEducation is very important in Chile. All Children between the ages 6-13 must attend school. Higher education has suffered because of political

unrest.Universities have been independent and of high

quality.

OriginsMexico was first colonized by Native

AmericansLater it was colonized by Spain for 3

centuries, which brought disease and killed off the majority of Native Americans

Mexico’s name was diverted from the Aztecs capital called Mexico-Tenochtitlan

Hernando Cortes and his men land in Mexico and their mission was to conquer it.

The Aztecs and the Spanish - They arrived there around A.D. 1200 from the deserts of Northern Mexico and built Tenochtitlan. - The Spanish destroyed Tenochtitlan and built Mexico City.Mexican Painters - In the 20th century, Mexico’s tradition of painting took the form of public art. - Jose Orozco, Diego Rivera, David Siqueiros, and Juan O’Gorman were important Mexican painters.An Architectural Heritage - At Teotihuacan, the people built a city of pyramids, many of which were topped with temples. - The Spanish built Cathedrals, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral in Mexico City.

Population and the Cities - Jobs in cities provide a way to narrow the gap

between the rich and poor. - Mexico’s population doubled by the year 2000.Oil and Manufacturing - Maquiladoras assemble imported materials into

finished products and are exported to the U.S. - Mexico, U.S, and Canada are vital members of

NAFTA. - Trade is expected to contribute to the economic

prosperity of the member nations.

Today, tourism is a major contributor to the Mexican economy .

Mexico's population has greatly increased since World War II, but the distribution of wealth remains imbalanced.

Many workers leave Mexico and travel to the U.S in search of work.Despite the political and social changes that

have occurred over the centuries, evidence of past cultures and events are apparent everywhere in Mexico.

Lack of Support for a Democratic Government A democratic government is a government by the

people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives. Freedom is guaranteed.

• Latin Americans today struggle to seek more democratic governments.

• The goal of a political reform is to establish a constitutional government and to increase the role of women in politics.

The issue is that not many citizens are willing to participate and many are not well educated or are provided with economic security.

• The income gap in Latin America has many causes ; some reflect on the impact of colonialism in the region.

• The income gap is a moral issue because it is an example of social justice and how everyone is not equal.

• The income gap is also an economic dilemma because there is a huge amount of poverty and a good amount of wealthy people who don’t do anything to help the unfortunate.

• Poverty is causing many people to rebel against the government to seek economic justice.