Topic 4: South America

quipu

Inca record-keeping device made of knotted strings

mita system

Inca taxes were paid by working part of the year on government building projects and farm labor.

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish explorer who conquered the Incas in what is now Peru and founded the city of Lima (1475-1541).

tango

popular Argentine dance

soccer (futbol)

-South America's most popular sport -all FIFA World Cup winners have come from either South America or Europe -Pele, a Brazilian player, has been labelled "THE greatest" by FIFA.

Tierra del Fuego

-archipelago across the southern-most tip of South America -across the Strait of Magellan -islands are split between Chile and Argentina

Carnival

-celebration that occurs before Lent, the Christian period of fasting before Easter -Samba schools prepare to compete by choreographing music and dance and creating costumes and floats.

Machu Pichhu

-city/fortress of the Inca -some say burial place for Sapa Inca -built around 1450 AD and re-discovered by American archaeologist Hiram Bingham in 1911

Atacama

-driest non-polar desert in the world -located west of the Andes Mountains

Brazil

-granted independence by Portugal in 1822 -5th largest country in WORLD by population and land area -largest in population, land area, and economy in SOUTH AMERICA

Pachacuti

-greatest Sapa Inca whose army helped empire expand -ruled 1438 to 1471/1472 - Machu Picchu is believed to have been built during his rule

The Guianas

-includes Guyana, Suriname, and territory of French Guiana -located in northern South America along Caribbean coast -all settled by European countries as sugar-growing colonies -Guyana (English), Suriname (Dutch), French Guiana (French)

Quechua

-language of the Inca -still spoken in regions of the Andes today

Amazon

-largest river in the world by discharge of water -first or second longest river in world depending on what is considered the true source -also name of rainforest (which is mostly in Brazil) -deforestation of this rainforest is a major concern

Inca Empire

-located in present day Peru -capital city was Cuzco -highly organized -known for precision cut stonework -built 15,000 miles of roads and bridges

Andes

-longest mountain range in the world and tallest in South America -highest point is Aconcagua -Llamas are used here both as pack animal and for their wool.

Roman Catholic Christianity

-major religion of most South American countries

South American economies

-mixed, lean market -includes agriculture (coffee and cacao, fruits), forestry, mining (oil and copper), tourism

Portuguese

-official language of Brazil

Spanish

-official language of most South American countries

samba

-popular Brazilian music and dance -performed in elaborate parades with costumed dancers and floats during Carnival

Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)

-seeks to develop the economy, free movement of people, and a common defense policy -All 12 independent nations are members.

Inti

-sun god -most important god of the Inca out of many worshipped -Sapa Inca was honored as the descendent of the sun god.

Inca civil war

-took place after Sapa Inca Huayna Capac died in 1527 -sons Huascar and Atahualpa fight over who will control empire -Atahualpa won in 1532 -divided and weakened empire and made Spanish conquest easier

democracy

-type of government found in some form or other in all South American countries -note: corruption and difficulties exist, most notably Venezuela under President Nicholas Maduro