Chapter 8 Central America and Caribbean
what are the major religions of Central America?
Catholicism some Protestant religions where English is spoken. Other faiths include Hinduism, Islam, and native American and African religions.
What is the name of the most dominant mountain range in Central America that runs from north to south?
Central Highlands
What were the negative effects of the Columbian Exchange?
Communicable diseases that killed many.
What has been at the center of disputes between borders of Central American countries throughout history (and today)?
Disputes about water. Example: Nicaragua recently tried to re-direct the San Juan River posted soldiers at the site. Costa Rica took the dispute to the United Nations.
How does the population density of Honduras compare to that of El Salvador?
El Salvador is more densely populated, and is largely coastal. Honduras has more land area (so more room to spread out...so less densely populated)
How did the exchange of food leave a lasting imprint in the Americas and Europe?
Europeans introduced new food plants to the Americas, which altered the economies of peoples in the Americas, Europe, and other continents.
Name the bodies of water that border the islands of the Caribbean?
Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea
What advantages did horses give Spanish invaders in the Americas?
Spanish soldiers could overtake indigenous forces and they were able to transport items.
What bisects the istmus of Panama?
The Panama Canal
Describe the importance of the Panama Canal to international trade.
The Panama Canal is one of the world's most important human-made waterways. It allows ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans without the long trip around South America's Cape Horn.
What river flows from Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean Sea?
The San Juan River
How would the culture and history of Central America and the Caribbean have been different without the spread of disease during the Columbian Exchange?
The native populations would not have been wiped out, so their influence would have been more apparent if they had not been killed off in such great numbers.
What factors attracted people to settle in the highlands in Central America?
The region's cooler climates, rainfall, and wealth of natural resources.
How have physical features kept some of Central America's people isolated?
There are three distinct belts: Pacific Lowlands, Caribbean Lowlands, and Central Highlands. The belts are bordered with mountains, creating isolation.
What is the ethnicity of Central America?
60% mestizo and 20% indigenous
In what way might Central America's position as a land bridge linking two continents affects its biodiversity?
A variety of animal and plant life might be transported from one to the other, so nonindigenous species could exist on each.
What is the predominant type of vegetation in Central America?
Tropical rain forests (b/c climate is predominantly tropical wet climate)
patois
a blend of several languages or dialects
archipelago
a group or chain of islands
isthmus
a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas
biodiversity
biological diversity in an environment as indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals.
What are the predominant cultures in the Caribbean?
black and mixed ethnic groups
ecotourism
blending travel with a concern for the environment
Describe how indigenous cultures, colonialism, slavery, and struggles for freedom influenced history and government in Central America?
by the mid-1600s Europeans had almost wiped out indigenous people, leading to a labor shortage, so enslaved Africans were brought to Central America. By the late 1700s, Africans and Native Americans organized to gain their freedom. By 1804, Haiti won independence from France, giving rise to other struggles for independence.
Why are majority of Central America's people concentrated in the Central Highlands?
cooler climates, rainfall, and many resources
Caribbean islands are typically a tropical ______________________ ______________________
dry climate
Why has the highland region attracted so much human settlement in Central America?
fertile soil caused by volcanic activity in this area known as the Ring of Fire fertile soil results in agricultural zones
what are latifundia?
highly mechanized estates owned by corporations
what might be one effect of the loss of biodiversity in Central America?
it could result in fewer revenue-providing resources.
dialect
local form of a language
What are some natural resources of Central America and the Caribbean that are imporant to the global economy?
nickel, iron ore, fish, timber, and petroleum
How does the location of Central America and the Caribbean in the Tropics affect their climate?
prevailing winds carry warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean and result in high temperatures and abundant rainfall year-found.
what are minifundia
small plots of land farmed by, by rarely owned by, farmers to feed their families
What economic factors have helped maintain an unequal distribution of wealth in Central America and the Caribbean?
the legacy of the hacienda system makes reform difficult. Campesinos who want to find work in cities are often prevented from leaving their minifundia by landowners, so campesinos remain very poor.
population pressure
the sum of factors within a population that reduce the ability of an environment to support the population, therefore resulting in migration or population decline
What is the predominant climate in Central America?
tropical wet climate
What are some natural resources of Central America?
water, fish, volcanic soil, timber, minerals (nickel, iron ore), and oil
Central America is predominantly a tropical ________________ _______________________
wet climate
What is Central America's largest freshwater lake?
Lake Nicaragua --it is unique because it is the only lake in the world to contain ocean animals like sharks and swordfish
What were the positive effects of the Columbian Exchange on the people of North America?
New crops that became important to sustaining populations and for economic development. It brought new ideas that helped cultures advance and adopt aspects of other cultures.
What are the three distinct belts in Central America?
Pacific Lowlands, Caribbean Lowlands, and Central Highlands.
What is one of the world's most important human-made waterways found in Central America?
Panama Canal
What links the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean?
Panama Canal
