LATIN AMERICA From the Rio Grande to the

LATIN AMERICA From the Rio Grande to the Amazon

Physical Features • Dominated by mountains along the west coast • Amazon River – world’s second longest river • Lake Titicaca – highest lake in the world that can be used for boat travel • Atacama Desert – one of the driest places on earth • Angel Falls – world’s highest waterfalls

Andes Mountains in Peru

Atacama Desert

Climate Zones

Population Density • Largest Cities: • Mexico City, Mexico • Buenos Aires, Argentina • Sao Paulo, Brazil • Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Economic Activity

Countries of Latin America • 33 countries • Brazil: largest in area and population • Major Languages: Spanish and Portuguese • Called Latin America because their languages are based on Latin – language spoken by the Roman Empire

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Culture • Latin America is a multicultural society – influenced by European, African, and Indian cultures. • It is estimated that between 25 and 100 million natives inhabited Latin America before the explorers arrived. • The Aztecs in central Mexico, the Incas in western South America, and the Mayas in southern Mexico and Central America developed advanced civilizations and great empires.

Culture • Europeans came during the early 1500’s and used superior weapons to conquer the natives, forcing them to work in mines as slaves. • European disease also decimated much of the native population. • Europeans did bring their language and religion which has had a lasting effect on Latin America’s culture.

Culture • The Spanish and Portuguese brought Africans to Latin America when there were no longer enough natives to work in the mines and on plantations. • Over five million slaves were shipped from West Africa to the coastal areas of Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, and the Caribbean Islands. • Their influences is seen today in the music, dance, food, language, and religion of the region.

• 90 % claim to be Roman Catholic • Latin America is home to nearly half of the world’s Roman Catholics. • Some Latin Americans still follow traditional tribal beliefs known as indigenous religions. • Other religious influences have been brought to the region by immigrants from Africa and Asia. Religion

Machismo & Marianismo • Machismo – expected of men and displayed through proving virility, showing respect, behaving honorably, acting with dignity, and being generous • Marianismo – expected of women, many believe that means being subservient (this is usually seen in public), but it is also seen in the honor and respect shown to mothers, sometimes = dominant role in the home

Work and Leisure • Many Latin Americans believe that work is something that must be done in order to have leisure. • Leisure is valued as a time to appreciate family, friends, and the finer things in life. • This attitude also translates into the Latin American concept of time – no need to be pressured by the clock!

Political Culture • The struggle for power between the small groups of wealthy elite and large majority of lower classes has created a state of turmoil and confusion for much of Latin America’s history. • While there have been moments of democratic government, much of Latin America has leaned toward authoritarianism. • However, in the 1980’s democracy swept the region and by the early 1990’s every state except for Cuba was run by a democratically-elected government.

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Slums in Latin America