GEOG 331 TEST 1 DR. MACK

How many degrees does the temperature drop for every 1000 ft upward

-3.5 degrees F, -6.5 degrees C

What were the objectives of the Aztec Conquest

-Conquer towns & people -Collect tributes and taxes -Gather hearts of warriors for god of war

Toltecs (Post-Classic Maya)

-Human sacrifice on a large scale -First Mayans the Spanish encounter

How is a desert created?

1. Air mass over cold water cools 2. Cool air holds little moisture 3. Cool air over land heats up 4. Heated air holds more moisture 5. Heated air sucks up moisture which creates desert

What are the 3 primary influences on temperature in LA

1. Altitude 2. Ocean Currents 3. Latitude (closer to equator, warmer climate)

AMAZON PLAIN

1/3 of the world's tropical rainforest 20% of the world's freshwater discharge

Historical Geography of LA (When does it begin)

12,000 to 100,000 yrs ago

Tierra Helada

12000 ft & up Sparsely settled La Paz and Cuzco in transition zone b/w Tierra Fria & Tierra Helada

About what time frame did the Aztecs enter the Valley of Mexico

1200s

Tierra Templada Temp? Center of? Transition zone?

3000-6000 ft Year round mild temps Historic center of population Transition zone b/w warmer and colder zones

Tierra Fria

6000-12000 ft More accurate "cool lands" Large population centers: Mexico City, Bogota, Quito Mid latitude crops

The Greeks were cataloging information (cultural, commercial and physical) by what year?

700 BC

1797 this man began a 5 year expedition to Latin America. He observed __________ and _______ & ________ relationships. Many of his geographic principles are still used today

Alexander Von Humbolt Phenomena Cause & Effect Relationships

PAMPAS

Alluvial Flat Plain Has LOESS (fine grained silt, blown by wind) Rich soils- agricultural potential Heart of Argentina

What is a Patron

An upper class master, who was paid homage by the lower class peasants Patron had an obligation to the peasants

Origins of Geographic Study What was the Origin for the Western World?

Ancient Greece

Eastern Highlands

Ancient igneous & Metamorphic Rock Divided into 2 parts

Mesoamerica means?

Anthropological term for Advanced Cultures

What is a doldrum or horse latitude

Area of low pressure, rising heated air

What is the world's driest desert?

Atacama Desert (Parts have no recorded rainfall)

What was the Aztecs Mythical homeland

Aztlan (La Gran Chichimeca)

Mesoamerican domesticated animals They had no?

Beast of burden

Regional Approach to Geography

Breaks the world into smaller units Systematic and Regional Approaches are interrelated

This plant could often be used as money

Cacao

Where is Lake Titicaca

Central Peru (in the Altiplano)

What was the Native Population of Middle America

Chichimecas (Northern Mexico), low culture

Where did the term "Latin America" come from

Coined by France to partially justify the invasion of Mexico By 1900 the name "Latin America" was commonly used throughout the Western World & Latin America

Mayan Writing

Combines glyphs (symbols) & phonetic system - Glyphs can stand for symbols, can be combined to form words

Southern Colombia 3 parallel ?

Cordilleras (Mtn. Ranges) -Western, Central, Eastern

What was the purpose of the Flowery War (1497) Dedicate Start

Dedicate huge new temple to Huitzilopochtli Start war with other neighbors

The Flowery War (1487)

Dedicated huge new temple to Huitzilopochli Started war with neighbors

Mesoamerica was a major center for?

Domesticating plants

Who had latifundistas?

Elite, upper class who had a disdain for manual labor

Southern Andes found where Tie has ? Valle ?

Found in Southern Chile Tierra Del Fuego Has Fjords (drowned glacial valleys) Valle Central (Central Valley of Chile)

Who were the Aztecs guided by and what did he demand

Guided by the god of war Huitzilopochtli -Demanded hearts of captive warriors

Brazilian Highlands

Heart of Brazil (Over 1/3 of the territory) Upland region with deeply eroded valleys (from rivers) Rich mineral deposits

Characteristics of High and Low Culture Groups

High: Architecture, Arts, Sciences, Complex Religions, ect. Low: Does not have these things or less complex versions

Climate of Latin America

Hot, Dry, Tropical Rainforests Climatic Diversity

Mayan City-States

Independent City States -Not unified empire

Altiplano Inter ? What lake is here? Highest altitude with?

Intermontane Plateau Lake Titicaca Highest altitude with permanent settlement

What is the narrowest part of Central America

Isthmus of Panama (Land bridge that connects N.A. to S.A.)

What is the narrowest part of Mexico

Isthmus of Tehuantepec

When were the Moors defeated in Spain

Jan 1492

What is a latifundista & what is the most important product of it

Latifundista- large land grant The most important product was prestige not production

What were some low culture groups (3)

Mapuches Arawak Caribs

What is the largest population center of Mexico (since at least 500 A.D.)

Mesa Central De Mexico

Arid Plateau with small Mountain Ranges in Mexico

Mesa Del Norte

Age of Discovery years?

Mid 1400s-1800

Muslims who invaded Spain became known as

Moors

Great Escarpment (Eastern Border of Brazil)

Narrow coastal plain Severely eroded Rolling hills Major barrier to interior

Central American Volcanic Axis Pacific Coastal Plain

Narrow, hot, very dry

Were the Aztecs an empire

No, they never forced culture on conquered groups as long as you payed tribute

LLANOS

Orinoco River lowlands Colombia through Venezuela Flat & Featureless

What is a tribute payment

Pay the conquerers for conquering you

What are the 2 major divisions in Geography

Physical Geography (Meteorology, Climatology, Soils, Geomorphology, ect.) Human Geography (Cultural, Political, Economic, Urban, Agriculture, ect.) The 2 are interrelated, cannot have one without the other

GRAN CHACO

Physically forbidding region 3 permanent streams Gran Pantanal (Huge Inland Swamp)

What are the languages used in Latin America

Portuguese & Spanish -Many areas of LA do not speak Latin derived languages (Ex. English, French, Dutch, Japanese, Native Languages)

What is the only grain with full protein

Quinoa

Historical Geography does what?

Recreates the geography of the past -Origin, Movements, Patterns

What is the dominant religion in LA

Roman Catholicism (But not everybody!) -39% of Guatemala is Protestant

Who led the reconquest (Reconquista) against the Moors

Santiago (St. James the Elder)

Tierra Caliente (Hot Land) Never? What kind of settlement? What crops cannot be grown?

Sea Level to 3000 ft Never approaches freezing Historically sparse settlement (disease & temp., port cities) Cold-sensitive crops cannot be grown

Maracaibo Basin Shallow? Drains into? Rich in?

Shallow Lake Drains into Caribbean Sea Rich in Petroleum

Patagonia Plateau

Southeastern tip of SA Escarpment along Atlantic

What 2 countries had a huge impact on Latin America

Spain & Portugal

Systematic Approach to Geography

Study of subfields of human and physical geography

Mayan Intensive Agriculture

Supported the city pop. & ruling elite Agr. controlled by calendar

What are two ancient foods made from Maize

Tamales & Tortillas (Not common outside Mexico & Central America)

What were the 2 Mesoamerican Military States

Tarascan Empire & Aztec Tribute State

What was the capital city of the Aztecs

Tenochtitlan

The market in Tenochtitlan was said to be larger than?

Than that of Venice, Italy

Extensive Mayan Trade Network

Traded throughout Mesoamerica -(Salt, Honey, Cotton Clothing, Slaves, Ect.) -not just with other Mayans

The Mayans were the only?

True historical civilization in the New World

Mayans were obsessed with ________?

Warfare

What are the prevailing winds of LA

Westerlies (go from west to east

Where was the Tarascan Empire located

Western part of Central Mexico

What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone

Where the NE & SE trade winds meet

Central American Volcanic Axis Atlantic Coastal Plain

Wider, hot, fairly wet, tropical environment Population is low on both plains (tropical diseases)

Western Alpine System -Andes Mountains

World's longest high mountain range & longest chain

Central Peru: Twantinsuyu Empire Were they a true empire?

Yes

Was the Tarascan Empire a true empire

Yes

What is a Region

an area with smaller characteristics

Mesoamerica was a major center for doing what to plants

domesticating plants

When did did the muslims invade Spain

early 700s

Mid 1700s was the start of __________ ____________ of _________ by _____ ____ and ________ ________

scientific voyages of discovery Captain Cook and Charles Darwin

What are 2 ancient foods from maize

tortillas, tamales

What are the 3 Major Goldwater Currents affecting LA

•California Current (cold) •Peru Current (cold) •Falklands/Malvinas Current (cold) Goldwater currents near land often produce deserts

What were some culture traits of Mesoamerica

•High Culture -Advanced Architecture - Highly organized religions - Well developed agriculture - But no Wheel

Mesoamerican culture traits

•High Culture -Advanced architecture -Highly organized religions -Well-developed agriculture -Organized trade markets -Astronomy & math -Some writing, but no WHEEL!