Unit 4 Geography Notes
The Inca Largest Native American empire Mainly peaceful Famed for their strong economy - Lots of gold!!
Francisco Pizarro: Conquistador who was on the search for gold Tricked the Inca into a slaughter, captured their leader Atahualpa. Inca traded gold and silver for Atahualpa's release (executed instead)
South America: 12 countries and 3 territories Argentina Bolivia Brazil Chile Colombia Ecuador Guyana Paraguay Peru Suriname Uruguay Venezuela Galapagos Islands (Ecuador) Falkland Islands (Great Britain) French Guiana (France)
Brazil, Argentina, and Venezuela are industrial nations, the rest of South America is still developing
Argentina: Juan Peron: Elected as president in 1946. Enacts reforms like 8-hour workdays and a minimum wage. Popular due to his wife, Eva Peron. Inspires further reforms like women's right to vote. 1952: Eva Peron dies. Juan becomes stricter. Censors newspapers/media. Military control of industry. Overthrown in 1955 by US supported military insurgents. Argentinian government has suffered from instability and dictators ever since
Venezuela• Orinoco River: provides a pathway for shipping and transportation. Angel Falls: worlds largest waterfall Argentina: Pampas grass (tall grass that covers most of the country) Gaucho (Argentinian cowboy: Romanticized in TV and movies throughout the world)
Between A.D. 1200 and 1535, the Inca population lived in the part of South America extending from the equator to the Pacific coast of Chile. The Inca Empire was the largest nation on Earth and remains the largest civilization to have existed in the western hemisphere. Cuzco, Peru, which emerged as the richest city in the Americas, was the center of Inca life and the home of its leaders. The Spanish sought to conquer the Inca because they had heard of their riches and gold. In the Inca civilization, silver and gold were used mainly for aesthetic purposes (mainly decoration). Silver and gold were not used as currency or to pay workers. In fact, most workers were paid for their labor in food and clothes. The Inca were hugely successful at farming the difficult terrain of the Andes Mountains. In fact, it is believed that the Inca had more cultivated land than land that is currently being farmed. The Inca were also a nation that loved to conquer other nations. They imposed their language on every nation they conquered. This continuous quest for domination and the continuous spread of their language, Quechua, is why it is believed that the Inca culture has survived to this day. The towns that made up the Inca Empire were protected by fortifications and served by ingenious water supply and drainage systems achieved by skilled builders who modified mountains and built agricultural hill terraces that stabilized slopes, controlled erosion, and channeled rivers. In addition, the last of the great Inca emperors established splendid stone homes and sanctuaries, including the sacred sanctuary of Machu Picchu, as part of the royal estates where emperors rested, observed stars, meditated, and rejoiced. These unique heritage sites have become exposed and vulnerable to a broadening array of damaging pressures such as the growth of urbanized settlements and commercialization, inadequate preservation management systems, and natural disasters including massive mud slides and intermittent significant seismic quakes. To address these pressing issues, the government of Peru requested the World Bank's assistance in 2004 towards the development of an initiative which has been designated the "Vilcanota Valley Rehabilitation and Management Project." The Inca were a distinct people with a distinct language - Quechua - living in a highland center, Cuzco - in the country now known as Peru. They were an ancient people with a voracious appetite for conquest, and although they themselves were the victims of Spanish conquistadors in the 1400s, they managed to avoid extinction. Quechua, the language of the Inca, was imposed on every tribe the Inca conquered so there were some remote villages that were able to escape the reach of the Spanish conquistadors and managed to survive and thrive. In fact, the legacy of the Inca is still felt throughout many parts of South America today. The Inca legacy can be seen today in arts, religion, farming, and even language. Many Peruvian children, for example, are raised with Quechua as their primary language and later learn Spanish when they are old enough to attend school. The Inca were very successful at turning steep mountainsides into terraced farms, and these terraced farmlands can still be seen throughout the mountainous countryside. Although most modern Inca families practice Catholicism, they still hold a reverence for nature and natural formations as did their Inca ancestors. People call the tall mountains Apus (pronounced Aah poos) and consider the snow mountains as holy. Most of the modern lives of the Inca are strongly influenced by their Inca heritage. Manco, an Inca king, made the following statement to his people when faced with domination by the Spanish conquistadors: "I know that some day by force or deceit, they will make you worship what theyworship. When that time comes, when you can no longer resist, do it in front ofthem, but on the other hand do not forget our ceremonies. And if they tell you tobreak your shrines, and force you to do so, reveal only what you have to, and keepthe rest hidden, close to your hearts."
Many components of the Quechua religion practiced by the Inca around the 15th century continue to be practiced today. Although 83 percent of the population practices Christianity, predominantly Roman Catholicism, there are significant traces of Quechua throughout the belief systems of many South Americans. When the Spanish conquered the Andean nations, they were accompanied by Roman Catholic missionaries who were intent on converting the Indigenous people. (Today, the largest number of Roman Catholics can be found in the country of Brazil.) To aid them in this mission, the missionaries used the language of Quechua to preach Christianity to the Indigenous peoples. The main object of worship in the Quechua religion is the sun. The following list identifies some of the most important gods and goddesses worshiped by the ancient Inca civilization. INTI - Sun god. Inti's image is a golden disk with a human face surrounded by bright rays. Every day Inti soars across the sky to the western horizon, plunges into the sea, and swims under the earth back to the east. Inti's sons are Wirakocha, Pachacomac, and Manco Capac. MAMA QUILLA - Goddess of the moon. Protector of married women. Her image is a silver disc with a human face. MANCO CAPAC - The son of Inti, also a solar god. The youngest of four brothers, Manco Capac defied the eldest brother who greedily demanded all of creation for himself. Sealing the eldest brother forever in a cave, Manco Capac murdered another and frightened the third into fleeing, never to be seen again. Thus gaining power over all the world, Manco Capac founded the city of Cuzco and was worshipped as the Son of the Sun. KONIRA WIRAKOCHA - The great god Wirakocha diguised as a traveler in rags. A trickster, a prankster. No one knew who he was, and the people he passed called him names. Yet as he walked, he created. With a word he made the fields and terraced hillsides. Dropping a reed blossom, he made water flow. VIRACOCHA - Literally, Sea-Foam. The Creator. The teacher of the world. After the Great Flood, which covered even the highest mountains and destroyed all life, Virococha molded new people out of clay at Tia Huanaco. IMAHMANA VIRACOCHA and TOCAPO VIRACOCHA - Son of the creator Viracocha. After the Great Flood and the Creation, Viracocha sent his son Imaymana Viracocha together with his brother Tocapo Viracocha to visit the tribes and see if they still followed the commandments they had been given. As they went, Imaymana and Tocapo gave names to all the trees, flowers, fruits and herbs, and taught the people which of these could be eaten, which could cure, and which could kill. PACHAMAC - God of the earth, creator god. Prior to the Incan conquest, the Peruvians worshipped Pachamac as the supreme being. For political purposes, the Incas were forced to adopt Pachamac into their own pantheon, but his position was never very secure. The great Inca Atahualpa treated Pachamac's priests with cold indifference, explaining to the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro that the god's oracle had made three ruinously inaccurate prophecies. The Great Sun King even incited the Spaniards to defile and loot the god's temple. They accepted the invitation enthusiastically. SUPAI - God of death. A god of insatiable greed. The Incas sacrificed over a hundred children a year to Supai and still he would not leave them alone.
South America contains a variety of climate zones: Tropical, desert, high alpine, tundra
Most countries are rural and have a few large population centers: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Bogota
Patagonia: Region in the southern most part of South America. Shared by Chile and Argentina. Contains a variety of climates that are impacted by the Andes Mountains: Tropical rainforest, Grasslands, Tundra
Rain Shadows: The Andes Mountains create a Rain Shadow across the western part of South America. Area of little to no rain due to the existence of a mountain/hill that blocks rain-bearing winds. Helps cause the various climates that are present within Patagonia
Resource nationalization is the term given to government control of country's natural resources. International experts have expressed concern over this trend because they believe that it often leads to slower and less productive use of a country's natural resources. Countries such as Venezuela and Brazil have nationalized oil and natural gas because of their lucrative potential. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the western hemisphere and is one of the founding members of OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries). Brazil's recent oil and natural gas discoveries could possibly surpass Venezuela's, and since Brazil worked hard to make its country energy independent - meaning it doesn't need to import natural energy resources - it could stand to make a lot of money from exporting any excess.
Although it is true that Ecuador is the world's largest exporter of bananas, and coffee is a very important Andean export, they are really only the start to this region's resource-laden area. In the Andes region, natural attractions fuel a growing ecotourism economy. Although the country of Bolivia has many people experiencing poverty it receives a steady stream of international tourists because of its incredible natural beauty. The Brazilian city of São Paulo is the leading industrial producer of South America as well as a major financial center. The country of Chile is known for its copper supplies. In fact, no other place in the world has copper in a greater quantity. As you have already learned, Colombia is the only South American country that touches both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Due to its expansive coastlines, fishing is an important natural resource in the region. Colombia also has a wealth of natural resources including coffee, emeralds, and coal, but due to drug cartels and guerrilla groups, many parts of the country are out of government control.
Caudillos: Military dictators. Often fought with each other over control. Many only ruled for their own fame and glory used social unrest as an excuse to seize political power.
Amazon River: second longest river Amazon rain forest: largest rain forest Lake Titicaca, on the Peru-Bolivia border: largest of the continent's lakes, world's highest navigable lake. Atacama Desert: such limited moisture it is considered the driest place on earth. Cerro Tololo, located high in the Andes Mountains: home to one of the largest observatories in the world. Angel Falls in Venezuela: the world's highest waterfall
Slash-and-burn agriculture: In countries with poor economies, such as those in South America, people turn to agriculture to meet the everyday needs of living. Farmers experiencing poverty then migrate to agricultural settlement areas and cut down several acres of land to use for farming. They then burn the stumps to release the nutrients into the soil needed to grow crops. This is essential because in rainforests nearly all of the nutrients required to sustain life are found within the plants and trees and not in the soil. Farming like this is the only way for people to survive. They raise crops to feed themselves and to sell to make money to live by. However, with no trees, the nutrients are soon washed away by rain. This can happen in as little as three years, when the farmers are forced to move to new land, as the land they cleared becomes useless and unable to yield crops. The land is left to regrow, but as the soil is left barren, the forest will take a long time (up to 50 years) to grow back. Intensive agriculture: Large companies clear vast amounts of land, often for cattle pastures to fill the world beef market. They also use the land for large plantations and use pesticides and irrigation systems that are very damaging to the land. The chemicals they use to kill pests also kill other animals and cause a lot of damage to surrounding areas. The rain washes the chemicals into the water system, killing the fish, another popular industry in South America. The use of irrigation systems in banana plantations affects the natural water balance of the land, which can have other damaging effects. Land used in these ways not only affects much of the surrounding area negatively, but also can take centuries to regrow. Commercial logging: Commercial loggers cut forests to sell as timber or pulp. This is done either selectively, taking only certain types of tree, or through clear cutting, whereby all trees in a certain area are removed. Selective felling is more damaging than expected, with studies showing that felling a small number of trees in a forest can affect many trees in the surrounding area. However, when left to regrow, the area recovers quite quickly. When clear cutting has taken place, it is very difficult for the forest to regrow at all, because all the nutrients have been removed. Trees are taken away, not burned, so their nutrients are not released into the soil.
Burning forests: Climate change: Trees are made of about 50% carbon, so when trees are burned, carbon is released into the atmosphere. This joins with oxygen to make CO2, which enhances the greenhouse effect, changing temperatures globally. Clear cutting of forests: Desertification: Clearing large areas of forest at once makes it very difficult for the forest to regrow at all; it is estimated that half the rain in tropical countries comes from evaporation of moisture in the canopy of the trees. Cutting them down reduces the amount of rain, raising temperatures and allowing the sun to heat up the land and dry it out. Large plantations: Pollution: Pesticides and irrigation systems are very damaging to the land. Chemicals used to kill pests also kill other animals. Rain washes the chemicals into the water system killing the fish as well. Subsistence Farming: Soil erosion: Although smaller areas are cleared for agriculture, with no trees, the nutrients of the soil are soon washed away by rain. This can happen in as little as three years, when the farmers are forced to move to new land, as the land they cleared becomes useless and unable to yield crops.
Cold War: Conflict between the democratic United States and communist Soviet Union In South America: Political turmoil in South America made it a prime location for the US and Soviets to spread their ideologies. Both superpowers sent money and supplies to Latin American countries to influence them. Oftentimes worked covertly to support instability in South America
Capitalism: Controls what and how much is produced: Supply and Demand Owns factories: Private individuals Who gets the products: Consumers with money Goal: Make a profit
Many of these earthquakes happen in South America, due to the Nazca and South American plates of the circum-Pacific belt. The location of South America on these tectonic plates is also the source of many volcanoes. Volcanic eruptions, in turn, can cause additional hazardous conditions such as debris flows, earthquakes, floods, landslides, and wild fires. The greatest earthquake ever recorded in the world occurred in Chile in 1960 with a recorded magnitude of 9.5. Great foreshocks sent people out of their homes and into the streets before the actual earthquake occurred, which ultimately mitigated the loss of life. This earthquake even caused a devastating tsunami felt thousands of miles away.
Changes in ecosystem functioning and the structure of vegetation affect which of the following in a region? atmosphere conditions What is the cause of a tsunami? shifting of the sea floor due to movement of tectonic plates Why are the Andes Mountains often studied? The Andes contain the most extreme variations in landscape, vegetation and climate of any mountain group in the world.
Socialism: Controls what and how much is produced: Government Owns factories: Government Who gets the products: Divided among citizens by government Goal: Distribute wealth equally
Communism: Controls what and how much is produced: Wants and Needs of the People Owns factories: Everyone Who gets the products: Everyone shares Goal: to end social class, greed, and corruption
Andes Mountains: Longest continuous mountain range in the world. Provided shelter for numerous ancient civilizations:The Inca, Chachapoyas (Cloud People). El Camino Inca: Ancient road constructed by the Inca. Well constructed, still in good condition today
Cordilleras and Sierras: The Andes Mountains is made up of numerous cordilleras Cordillera: Parallel mountain ranges that are connected via plateaus. Very prominent in the Andes and Rockies Mountains. Sierra: Long ridges that are usually very rocky and jagged. Bending and folding of sedimentary rock from pressure
Unsustainable fishing practices will deplete resources and reduce availability. Unsustainable fishing practices will deplete resources and adversely impact other ecosystems. Unsustainable fishing practices can ultimately drive up prices due to declining supply.
Did you know that tropical rainforests, which cover 6 to 7% of the earth's surface, contain over half of all the plant and animal species in the world! Did you know that 57% of all rainforests remaining are located in the Neotropics, with 30% located in Brazil? Did you know that over 130 species a day are wiped out globally through deforestation! Did you know that Brazil has the highest annual rate of deforestation today! Did you know that the Atlantic coast of Brazil has lost 90 to 95% of its rainforest?
Venezuela: South of the mountains is the Orinoco River basin, a vast plain of savanna grasses known as the Llanos (YAH-nohs) Argentina: Very grassy plains, known as pampas, cover much of northern Argentina. The unrelentingly flat Pampas is Argentina's agricultural heartland and the home of that symbol of romantic nationalism, the gaucho. Chile: The Andes, running north to south along the west coast, form the world's longest exposed mountain range. Torres del Paine National Park is a Chilean National Park comprising mountains, glaciers, lakes and rivers. The best-known and most spectacular summits in the country are the three Towers of Paine - gigantic granite monoliths shaped by the forces of glacial ice with an estimated elevation of over 8000 feet. Colombia: Colombia is the only South American country with coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Three cordilleras - An extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges - separate the western coastal lowlands from the eastern jungles. Ecuador: Ecuador's name comes from the equator, which divides the country unequally. Ecuador is the smallest Andean country with four distinct regions - the Costa, or coastal plain; the Sierra, or Andean uplands; the Oriente, jungles; and the Galapagos Islands.
EMERGENTS: In the emergent strata, one can find giant trees that reach far higher than the average canopy height. This zone is home to many birds and insects. CANOPY: The canopy strata contain the upper parts of the trees - about 65 to 130 feet tall. This leafy environment is full of life in a tropical rain forest and includes insects, birds, reptiles, mammals, and more. UNDERSTORY: The understory level is a dark, cool environment under the leaves but over the ground. There are short, leafy, mostly non-flowering shrubs, small trees, ferns, and vines (lianas) that have adapted to filtered light and poor soil. FOREST FLOOR: The forest floor is teeming with animal life, especially insects. The largest animals in the rain forest generally live in this zone - anacondas and jaguars, for example. Tropical rain forests are home to over half the world's species, as well as millions of people. The average annual rainfall is between 80 and 400 inches and temperatures hover consistently around 72 degrees Fahrenheit during the day. Nearly half of the Earth's original forest cover has already been lost, and each year more than thirty million tropical forest acres are destroyed.
The Rainforest: South America is famous for the rainforests throughout the continent. Rainforests are divided up into different levels of plant and animal life Emergent Layer: Highest level that contains the tallest trees. Populated by mostly birds and insects. Canopy: Upper parts of most trees within the rainforest. Contains a wide variety of animal life. Understory: Layer above the ground but under the canopy. Many plants that have adopted to life with limited to no sunlight. Forest Floor: Lowest level of the rainforest. Contains the most diverse population of plants and animals
Earthquake Center of the World: Convergent plate on the western part of South America. Causes numerous earthquakes on a daily basis. Most are small and not felt by people 1960 Earthquake in Chile: Largest earthquake ever recorded, 9.5 on the Richter scale
South American Culture Today: South America has been heavily influenced by the colonization of Europe. Many traditions and beliefs stem from their previous colonization. Much of South America is Roman Catholic. Though some ancient religions, like that of the Inca, are still practiced. Soccer is often referred to as a "religion" in South America. Each country is wildly passionate about their teams and the sport. Pablo Neruda: South American poet who focused on the people and culture present in South America. Focused on positive features of South America and Chile (his home country)
Endangered species ... An animal or plant is considered to be an endangered species if it is in danger of extinction in the immediate future. Extinction means that the plant or animal is gone forever from this world. A threatened species is one that is in danger of becoming endangered in the immediate future - it is currently on a path toward extinction. The giant otter, the gray grass mouse, and the giant anteater are all currently on the Endangered Species List for South America. The United States and South America have been working together to help protect threatened and endangered species on both continents. In 1973, President Nixon passed the U.S. Endangered Species Act to help protect plants and animals in the United States. Part of the goal of protecting plants and animals is determining where these animals live and thrive. Critical habitats are areas of designated land that includes "all areas essential to the conservation" of the target endangered or threatened species. The hope is that by determining where these plants and animals thrive, these habitats can be protected and ultimately the animal and plants will not become extinct.
As we have learned earlier in this unit, Brazil, Venezuela, and Argentina are three countries in South America hugely impacted by the presence of oil within their borders. Although Venezuela currently leads the trio in terms of oil reserves and is a founding member of OPEC, Brazil is also a South American country with large oil reserves. Its offshore drilling exploration are undertaken by Petrobras, the nation's major oil company. While pursuing an aggressive offshore drilling strategy, the country of Brazil was also working hard to make its country energy independent and has become the world's largest consumer of plant-based biofuels. Although Brazil has made large offshore oil discoveries in recent years, it generally takes about ten years for that oil to reach the market. For many years, Venezuela has led the region in terms of oil. Venezuela is the fourth biggest supplier of oil to the United States and, in fact, has provided oil for free to poor people in the United States to booster the international perception of the country and its leader. Venezuela receives over 80 percent of its income from oil revenues due to the fact that all oil resources are state-owned. An important benefit to state-owned resources has been increased social programs instituted to help the poor as well as virtually free oil for the residents of the country. Unfortunately, when the cost of a barrel of oil is over $100 the nation does incredibly well, but when the cost of a barrel of oil plummets to $50 a barrel the entire nation suffers. This overdependence on oil to support the economy is part of what is known as the paradox of plenty. Oil not only creates very few jobs, but it also destroys jobs in other sectors of the economy and eliminates other productive activity. Oil-dependent countries tend to be surprisingly poor. Nationalization of resources tends to turn away multi-national corporations from investing in the region as well. This trend toward resource nationalization is indicative of the competing political alternatives vying for control across South America. Following the economic collapse in the United States and throughout developed industrialized nations, leftist presidents in countries such as Venezuela and Bolivia are taking advantage of the popular discontent throughout their nations to challenge the authority of traditional ruling elites. Time will tell what this means for the oil industry and other natural resources throughout South America.
In 2019 and 2020, protests occurred throughout the South American continent. Many were related to the mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic by the leaders of nations, with citizens calling for changes to policies and even to the leaders of the government. In Bolivia, a 2019 political crisis resulted in a coup, replacing popular president Evo Morales. While the organizers of the coup claimed that the results of the 2019 election were rigged, many Bolivians supported Morales and pushed for another election. The 2020 election went on after months of protests, eventually resulting in victory for Luis Arce, a member of the same party as Morales. The results would lead to the end of the mass demonstrations, though not a complete end to the strikes. In Chile, massive protests against rising prices, social inequality, and corruption were prevalent for two years. The strikes called for reforms in many areas of society, including education and healthcare, and the resignation of president Sebastián Piñera. The strikes led to a state of emergency in areas of Chile due to widespread violence. In the 2021 presidential election, leftist candidate Gabriel Boric was elected, and people are hopeful that his election will calm tensions. In Venezuela, growing discontent of the government has been fueled by inflation, lack of power, and shortages of food. The government, run by Nicolás Maduro, has been in a power struggle with its political opponents, making matters worse. The problems have led to almost 6 million Venezuelans leaving the country to escape the crisis.
Although the people of Argentina were wary of their dictator, Juan Peron, they were willing to tolerate him because they loved Eva Peron and demanded she become vice president. Inca rulers paid their laborers in clothing and food. What is the main object of worship in the Quechua religion? The sun More than 50 percent of the people of South America practice Christianity. Eva Peron worked diligently for the poor and less fortunate people of Argentina Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet, writer, diplomat, political activist and exile, Nobel Prize winner for Literature, "people's poet," senator, and one of the greatest South American poets. Argentina and the U.S. are both considered "melting pot" nations. Which South American country is the largest consumer of plant-based biofuels in the world? Brazil Which of the following cities has the largest population? São Paulo, Brazil Which South American nation had a political crisis in a 2019 coup, but restored a democratic government in 2020 after months of protest? Bolivia
Inca: Largest empire to have ever existed in the western hemisphere. Cusco (Peru) was its capital and the wealthiest city in pre-Columbian Americas. Gold/silver was used for decorative purposes. The Inca were great empire builders. Incan Culture: Dominated other cultures within South America. Imposed their languages and culture on every other civilization that they conquered. Terraced Farming: Flat fields cut into the sides of mountains. Irrigation system at the top of the mountain so water can drain down the side of the mountain Incan Quipu: Device used to keep records. Each knot in the string represents a certain unit for a product. Each colored string represents a different commodity
First developed by the Romans, latifundias are large plantation-style estates. Latifundias took root in Spain and the practice was then transferred to the Americas when Spain and Portugal established colonial rule. Latifundias continue to be an integral component of Latin American politics as well as the economy and social structure. Latifundias generally produce only one crop which, as we learned in the previous units, creates something known as green deserts. Latifundias also established a model for elite behavior and class structure. Over half of the total farm acreage in South America is held in the form of huge landed estates. Control of these estates means political power due to the importance of agriculture in terms of employment throughout South America. Many people see the continuing existence of the latifundia system as a major obstacle to development in South America because these large landed estates, in essence, deny many people access to land. Minifundias, on the other hand, are small estates - usually less than 50 acres. Although minfundias constitute a large number of the farms in South America, they actually account for less than 4 percent of the land under cultivation. Minifundias are generally purely subsistence farms that support only the families farming the area and really produce no economic surplus. Some of the minifundias have come into existence due to inheritance laws breaking up large farming estates among heirs.
It is believed that for every species alive today, there are 1000 species that are no longer in existence on this planet.
Rivalry on the Iberian Peninsula Portugal and Spain developed a fierce rivalry over exploration Both had large navies but didn't want to go to war Turned to the Pope for guidance Line of Demarcation: Artificial line, set up by the Pope, that split the world into 2 sections. Everything to the east of the line belonged to Portugal. Everything to the west of the line belonged to Spain. Spain benefitted because they had access to more land and resources. Natives in the Americas were not asked about how they felt about their land being divided up.
Latin American revolutions are famous for inspiring individual heroes Francisco de Miranda: Studied Enlightenment thinkers like Locke and Montesquieu. Asked European countries for help against Spanish rule - none came to his aid Simon Bolivar: El Libertador (the Liberator). Helped Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, and Ecuador gain independence. Bolivia is named after him Jose de San Martin: Helped Argentina, Chile, and Peru gain their independence. Famously traveled over the Andes Mountains to help fight for independence
In most of Latin America, strong racial divisions from colonial times continued. A white minority, descendants of European colonists, dominated government and commerce. The whites discriminated against the Indians, who had been the original inhabitants of these lands. Most Indians lived in isolated, impoverished communities. Mixed-race mestizos, with both white and Indian blood, held a position between the two groups. Although discriminated against, mestizos could sometimes rise through ambition and hard work.
Socialism in Chile: 1970 - Salvador Allende is elected as president of Chile. Adopts many socialist policies. Allende's Economic Plan: Redistributes land. Nationalizes banks, mines, and other industries. US companies lose millions of dollars. Creates food shortages and 500% inflation. US gets involved: CIA plans a truck drivers strike which cripples Chile's economy. Allende overthrown with help from the CIA Augusto Pinochet: Took over for Allende in Chile. Ruled as a military dictator. Rolled back Allende's socialist policies. Arrested anyone who supported Allende (tortured and executed). Made Chile's economy the strongest in South America. Supported by the US due to anti-communist policies. 1982 worldwide recession: Chile's economy suffers => strikes throughout the country. Pinochet taken out of power peacefully
Modern culture in South America is primarily influenced by cultures of Indigenous people, European culture brought by conquistadors, and U.S. culture on television. Culture includes both formal and informal expressions of people and includes things such as literature and art as well as music, dance, religion, and other customs. Modern day cowboys such as the gaucho pictured above are examples of modern culture strongly influenced by the history of the region. These men, also known as vaqueiros, huasos, and llaneros, are still an integral part of the ranching areas of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. South America has a very diverse population, with many ethnic groups and different ancestries. Only in two countries do Indigenous peoples make up the majority of the population - Peru and Bolivia. On the rest of the continent, most of the Indigenous descendants are of mixed race ancestry. Some countries, such as Argentina, have an incredible European immigrant population. Argentina, much like the United States, is often referred to as a melting pot. This diverse population throughout South America has had quite an influence on music, art, and literature throughout the continent. Modern immigration has also impacted the current culture of the continent. Nueva Cancion is a modern style of music in South America that combined traditional Latin American folk music with modern rhythm and politicized lyrics. Pablo Neruda, known as the "people's poet," wrote extensively about South America. He was a poet, writer, diplomat, political activist, and Nobel Prize winner. He wrote about the people, places, and important features of his native Chile as well as poems about love and beauty. He was a prolific writer and is still revered by all of South America.
The political turmoil present in most of South America is directly linked to the mostly downtrodden economy of the region. Beginning in the 17th century, the exploitation of the continent's resources and the development of its industries were the result of foreign investment and initiative, especially that of Spain, Great Britain, and the United States. Since World War II the nations of South America have sought greater economic independence and there has been an increasingly strained relationship between many nations of South America and the United States. An early obstacle to industrial growth in South America was the scarcity of coal. The continent therefore predominantly relied on its petroleum reserves, most notably in Venezuela and also in Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Ecuador, as a source of fuel. Today, due to years of investment, hydropower is the primary source of most of the continent's electricity. Although 1/3 of the continent practices subsistence farming, most of the citizens of South America are concentrated around the capital cities of most countries, with the notable exception of Brazil. Although the capital of Brazil, Brasilia, has many inhabitants, Sao Paulo, Brazil is considered to be one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. In every country in South America, many of the people experiencing poverty in rural areas have flocked to urban areas in search of employment but high unemployment levels have resulted in large pockets of people experiencing poverty living in shanty towns in urban areas. The tumultuous economic situation in most of these countries has resulted in an equally tumultuous political situation. In recent years, many of the countries of South America have elected leaders with decidedly socialist leanings. Unfortunately, although these leaders are elected with the promise of reducing poverty, creating jobs, and improving the overall quality of life in their countries, this has rarely been the case.
Which of the following is true of South American cities? Rapid urbanization has resulted in overcrowded cities and remote rural populations In South America, plantation crops like bananas, coffee, and sugar are examples of which of the following? Export-based agriculture Which of the following was a result of interference from the government of the United States during the Cold War? Removal of Salvador Allende from Chile Which of the following best describes the paradox of plenty? The discovery of oil resources does not positively impact a countries standard of living but in fact eliminates productive activity Where are most biosphere reserves in South America located? Along the Andes Mountains Which of the following best describes a critical habitat? Land thought to be important to the survival of an endangered or threatened species
Which of the following is an impact of a cordillera in the Andes mountains? Connecting plateaus have provided an area for which civilization can flourish in the mountains Why did many South American countries fail to become industrialized when Europe and North America were industrializing? NOTSouth American economies lacked desirable trade goods that would have been used to trade for European industrial goods NOTAgricultural companies refused to industrialize due to increasing labor costs Why are there so many earthquakes in South America? South America's location atop the Nazca and South American plates of the circum-Pacific belt Which of the following was a consequence of the El Camino Inca? NOTReduced the impact of economic trade between South American civilizations NOTConnected rival kingdoms in the Andes mountains leading to widespread conflicts Inexperience among the newly formed governments of South America after the countries gained independence resulted in which of the following? Political instability leading to control being given to caudillos
Women Farmers in Brazil Norma Gatto is a soybean farmer. After her husband died, she took over the family farm and became one of Brazil's most powerful female agriculturalists. Gatto and other women are breaking barriers to take part in Brazil's lucrative, male-dominated agricultural industry. Sweet Treats in Tough Times It's not easy for pastry chef Randall Sevilla to keep a business going in unstable Venezuela, but it's well worth the effort. Creating delicious desserts is his way of making life a little brighter for people in a country in crisis. Many Venezuelans cannot afford fancy food. Economic uncertainty means that businesspeople such as Sevilla have to make difficult decisions. Women Porters in the Peruvian Andes Until 2016, only men worked as porters in the Peruvian Andes, helping tourists hiking the Inca Trail. Now, a new business called Evolution is not only helping women find work as porters but also improving working conditions for these difficult positions. Ballet in Peru In Lima, Peru, former professional ballerina Maria del Carmen Silva is breaking barriers between those who are rich and those who experience poverty by offering ballet classes to low-income girls who would otherwise be unable to afford to learn to dance. Seven million Peruvians live on about one hundred dollars a month. Many do not have running water in their homes. The classes help all children to mix and meet each other.
•Endangered Species •A plant or animal that is immediately threatened with extinction in the near future •Threatened Species: •A plant or animal that is in danger of becoming endangered in the near future •Many South American animals have either become or inched closer to becoming endangered due to humans negatively impacting their habitats •Deforestation, poaching, hunting
