Latin America Test
According to Tilly's theory, why can wars be beneficial?
wars can be beneficial because they provide the potential to create states, but that process doesn't really work unless there's some institutional foundation to build on.
Latin America has seen a lot of civil wars in the last two hundred years. When Latin American states mobilize their military, who are they usually fighting?
their own citizens
How have political conditions in paraguay and uruguay changed in recent years?
Urbanization has resulted heavy air pollution that blankets its capital. This place still attracts many people who want to seek for new jobs/opportunities (migration.)
What does this primary source tell you about the city?
Very organized; needed to use a lot of math
What are the major landforms and climates of Central America?
- The mountainous core has a climate of a year-round springlike climate. - The Caribbean lowlands have tropical wet climate-hot and humid year round. - The Pacific Coastal Plain's climate is a tropical wet and dry climate with savanna.
How many days did the Mayan calendar have in every year?
365
What effects has economic growth had on the labor force of Brazil?
About half of the labor force now works in service industries, such as hotels and restaurants, retail stores, and government-have sprung up industrial growth.
What is the largest country in Latin America?
Brazil
Using the two primary source slides, what are some of the objects and structures that Cortés sees in Tenochtitlán?
Built on a lake, city is as big as the cities in Spain. They use canoes to travel to one place to another. Have many temples and idols. City itself is very big; very organized
Why is migration so common among caribbean islanders?
Caribbean islanders had migrated in search of jobs. The major of people have been employed to work for sugar plantations. The eighth month of the plantation is known as tiempo muerto which means the dead season. During this season, the islanders migrate to Central America or US to work.
Geographic challenges in Brazil? Solution?
Challenge - Amazon basins are inhospitable for agriculture and habitat of large population Challenge - Due to distance and geography it is hard to export agricultural commodities to International markets Solution - Vast tropical Savanna advances in agriculture
Geographic challenges in Guatemala? Solution?
Challenge - Guatemala's mountainous terrain tropical latitude and small size limit the country's influence in the Caribbean basin Challenge - their active volcano (since they are mostly made up of Sierra Madre) complicates construction and maintenance of infrastructure, thereby limiting state control - the lowland of the Peten-is densely forested with climate unsuitable for agriculture Solution- the southern highlands moderated by the tropical latitude creating a mild climate suitable for agriculture
Geographic challenges in Peru? Solution?
Challenge - Large cocoa plantations drug trafficking-lead to rebels/unrest Challenge - internal security situations-deep ethno-linguistic division between european descents and amara quechua and other Solution - Peru has seen significantly growth
Geographic Challenges in Venezuela? Solution?
Challenge - Managing its relations with the US to attract foreign investment and technological development Challenge - The President of Venezuela built domestic and foreign policies around rejecting US influence. Solution - Since they have a lot of oil/ crude oil, they could export their oil to the US (largest consumer)
Geographic challenges in Argentina? Solution?
Challenge - external threats/ military threat come from northern border Paraguay Challenge - Brazil threat to Argentina's control over its core River Basin; blockade of the port of Buenos Aires Solution - one of the most resource rich country in the world
Geographic challenges in Colombia? Solution?
Challenge - have security challenges Challenge - have regions-drug trafficking; oil rich areas; pacific coastline; needs to maintain control of these areas Solution - their natural resource wealth and close proximity to the US could lead to ongoing economic opportunities
Geographic challenges in Mexico? Solution?
Challenge - need to protect Veracruz-their major source of threat Challenge - Mexico City/ Mexico mountains; the traditional hotbeds of unrest-there is isolation Solution - the desolate baja California peninsula provides a natural barrier-and protection from invasion
Geographic challenges in Cuba? Solution?
Challenge - their main geographic challenge is that its location has repeatedly made the island of battle ground in global affairs Challenge - its proximity and importance to the United States Solution - Venezuela has provided petroleum for Cuba (politically/economically isolated)
What types of produce are indigenous to the Americas?
Corn, tomatoes, potatoes and tobacco
What happened to the countries in Latin America when Europe left?
Countries faced revolutions and chaos
What are the physical characteristics of the southern grassland countries?
Great Rivers, Andean Region, Tropical Lowlands, Grasslands, and Patagonia.
What four things do all Latin American countries have in common?
History, Languages, Religions, Challenges
How do climate conditions affect the people of Bolivia and Chile?
In Bolivia the cold, thin air of the high plateau makes physical activity difficult for nonnative-born people. In Chile, about three fourths of the Chilean people live in the thickly populated Central Valley. This is a region of fertile river basins.
How has migration made the Guianas culturally distinct from the rest of the nations in South America?
In Guyana their ethnic composition varies in three Guianas-Europeans and Asians. Now most people in Guyana belong to these two major ethnic groups.
How have social and economic conditions sometimes led to political conflicts in the nations of Central America?
In Nicaragua, they had a group called the Somoza in which they changed and manipulated election results and the economy. In 1979, a group called Sandinistas overthrew the Somoza government. In El Salvador, the landless ordinary people increased and was more populated than the wealthy landowners. In 1979-1992 there was a bloody civil war that involved the army, and anti-government guerrillas
What environmental and economic challenges exist in the northeast?
In the northeast they have an interior plateau (sertao). This region has a tropical wet and dry climate, and this place bakes through a year or more of drought. Therefore not have fertile soil. The northeast suffers from severe poverty. Many people are malnourished. Life expectancy is short.
What peoples and cultures are found in Central America?
Indians- each Indian groups has their own history. Most of these groups live in Guatemala Europeans and Mestizos- They arrived in Central America in the 1500s African Descent- mostly descents of slaves Main language-Spanish
List three things that Europeans did to the natives during their colonization of Latin America.
Language, Religion, Enslaved them
What famous city did the Incas build high in the Andes Mountains of Peru?
Machu Picchu
What are the main characteristics of the Mexican economy?
Major industries (drugs, petroleum, tourism), Border Industries (between the US and Mexico there are factories that produce goods for the US)
What economic challenges are faced by the urban and rural poor?
Many parents in favelas cannot feed or house their children or provide them school. Hungry children live on the streets seeking for a job or begging.
What technology does Cortés mention in his account that shows the Aztecs were able to adapt to this environment?
Math and science
What are the names of some of the indigenous tribes that settled in Latin America?
Maya, Inca, Aztecs
How did Mexico become a Spanish colony?
Mexico became a Spanish colony when the Aztecs were dwelling in their main city, Tenochtitlan. Hernando Cortes, spanish conquistador came in 1519, with 600 spanish soldiers and conquered the Aztecs; became a Spanish colony.
How have the physical features of the Andean countries affected the people who live there?
Not many inhabit the tropical forest due to dramatic contrast between the cold, dry mountains and the steamy lowlands.
What are the problems of a one-crop agricultural system in colombia?
One problem of a one-crop agricultural system is that Tenant farmers are often barely able to grow enough food for their families because they focus their efforts on producing a cash crop of coffee.
What were some of the reasons there is a lack of state nationalism (patriotism) in Latin American countries?
One reason there is a lack of state nationalism in Latin American countries is that because since they did not have a lot of international wars. Another reason for the lack of state nationalism in Latin AMerica is the absence of an external enemy. Another reason they lacked nationalism is that they have racial and class division.
Which South American country has the highest percentage of Roman Catholics?
Paraguay
In his book Blood and Debt: War and the Nation State in Latin America, historian Miguel Angel Centeno posits that while Latin America has had more than its share of military regimes, this is a reflection of the weakness of the state. What is his reasoning for saying this?
Part of reason for saying that is that Latin American countries have frequently been ruled by military leaders, they often lack the capacity to raise large number of troops and the tax to pay for them. The wars between Latin American states were brief and not particularly destructive compared to the European wars of the 20th century.
What social problems face Mexico today?
People in Mexico in the countryside work in agriculture. An estimated 3 to 4 million rural Mexican families have neither the land nor opportunities for work because of the huge commercial farms. In Mexico City, there are still many people who are poor and have trouble surviving.
How has urbanization affected the southeast region?
People in southeast region lives near the urbanized cities of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. They settle here for a better job but most of uneducated people end up in slum communities called favelas as they can't find a job.
What is the predominant religion in Latin America?
Roman Catholicism
How are the economies of Ecuador and Peru similar and different?
Similar: They have a minority of people of European descent control most of the country's wealth and are leaders in the government and in the army. Different: Peru-subsistence farming (agriculture) and Ecuador-natural resources (main export is petroleum)
Latin America was colonized mostly by which two European countries?
Spain and Portugal
What is the main language of Latin America?
Spanish because Latin America was colonized by the Spanish
How has Venezuela's physical characteristics and climate regions influence the nation's economic activities?
The Andean Highlands in Venezuela provides agriculture, because this region is fertile. Another region is the eastern llanos/orinoco delta. This provides Venezuela lots of oil (they are oil rich). Venezuela's different elevation and climates help grow different crops-ex) coffee.
How have Brazilian government policies affected the economy?
The Brazilian government policies affected the economy by building the first steel mill and oil refinery. They also build many hydroelectric dams to produce power of the industrial expansion. They also established a bank where people can loan money to start new businesses.
What are the physical characteristics of the Caribbean islands?
The Caribbean islands consist of three island groups: the Greater Antilles, the Lesser Antilles, and the Bahamas. All these islands are located in the tropics.
What are the main physical characteristics that affect daily life in Mexico's heartland region?
The central plateau, Sierra Madre affects the daily life in Mexico's heartland. This region is geologically unstable however. This causes earthquakes which often shake the land. Some of the mountains in the southern edge of the plateau are active volcanoes.
How has economic development contributed to environmental change?
The forests were cleared to have more land for people to cultivate and yield the field for the survival. This resulted deforestation.
Why do some countries have a hard time stopping drug cartels?
The government cannot control the drug cartels
Why has the government encouraged urban growth and economic development in the Brazilian Highlands?
The government encouraged the development in the Brazilian Highlands to draw people away from the coastal area and equalize the population.
What are the main characteristics of the Amazon River basin ecosystem?
The main characterization of the Amazon River basin ecosystem is that they have heavy rainfall, and warm temperatures (constant) 27 degrees celsius. This place is a home to many species of plants and animals.
What is the political and economic status of the Caribbean islands today?
The political status of the Caribbean islands today they are politically linked to European countries or the United States. The economic status of the Caribbean is that their economy mainly depends on agriculture and tourism.
What was controversial about Charles Tilly's theory about how nation-states emerge?
The theory is about some European states were able to transform themselves into national states between the 16th and 20th centuries, because their rulers were able to develop the coercive institutions that protected their populations from outsiders and to protect from internal revolution.
What are the ethnic roots of Caribbean culture?
There are little evidence of the original inhabitants. African descent- the Europeans brought slaves to work for them when they came to Caribbean islands Asian immigrants- people from East and South Asia immigrated to get a better job here
What does Cortés' account tell you about the Aztec people?
They are smart and vicious
What do drug cartels do?
They smuggle drugs into to other countries, like the US and create violent outbreaks wherever they go
What did the Europeans think about the natives? Why did they think this?
They thought they were savages-used different language. The Europeans thought they needed to take responsibility to make them more civilized
In what ways were these people often more advanced than the Europeans?
They were advanced in math
What were key political events in the development of democracy in Mexico?
a creole priest, Miguel Hidalgo rebelled against Spanish rule (1810). By 1821, Mexico became an independent nation, however the people were ruled by dictators (not democratic). In 1910, the peasants and middle-class Mexicans rebelled. This became the Mexican Revolution and they rebelled against the dictator and the landlords who controlled them. The fighting ended in 1920, and a new president came into power with a new constitution, and they established democracy.
Why does John Green believe taxes can be good?
because without taxes on individuals, the state didn't have to bargain with its citizen and develop the important bonds between the government and the population. The government needs to listen to the people when it needs money. This can create a strong nationalism.
What of the Mayans was actually more accurate than the Europeans?
calender
The Gulf Coastal Plain has....
many geological resources like petroleum and natural gas.
Northern Pacific Coast is..
dry, hot and for the most part thinly populated.
The Yucatan Peninsula is generally..
flat unlike the mountains and covers much of Mexico. The bedrock is made of limestone.
What did the natives of Latin America originally believe the Europeans to be?
gods
What did the natives believe the horses were?
half human and half beast
Southern Pacific Coast there is...
little farmland, it has a smaller mountain range along the edges of the coast.