Cultural Geography of Latin America

Population Patterns Latin America makes up 9% of the world’s population

very ethnically diverse

Native Americans

Europeans

Africans

Asian

Mixed races

Blending of Peoples

Native Americans—first to settle Latin America

3 major indigenous groups

Maya—Yucatan Peninsula

Aztec—central Mexico

Inca—Peruvian highlands

Early culture hearths

traditional cultures still preserved and many Native Americans still live in Mexico, Central America, Ecuador, Peru & Bolivia

Europeans

Spanish & Portuguese colonized in late 1400s after Columbus’ discover of the New Worldother European groups immigrated to Latin America laterItalians, French, British, GermansArgentina & Uruguay are still considered immigrant nations

Africans

came as slaves in 1500s

mainly in Brazil & the Caribbean Islands

late 1800s—slavery ended and many Africans remained (families had been there for generations)

added their cultural influence to food, music, arts & religions of Latin America

Asianscame as temporary workers in the 1800s and remainedGuyana—almost half of their population is of South or Southeast Asian descentArgentina—85% of population is South or Southeast AsianPeru, Mexico, Cuba—many Chinese immigrantsBrazil & Peru—Japanese immigrants; Peru even had a Japanese Prime Minister

Language

Mostly adopted from European countries that colonized the area

Spanish—most common language spoken

Portuguese—in Brazil

French & English also spoken in many Caribbean Islands

dialects—forms of a language unique to a particular place or groupmany countries have different dialects of the same languagemillions still speak Native American languagesmany Latin Americans are bilingualothers speak one of many forms of patois—dialects that blend elements of indigenous, European, African & Asian languages

Where Latin Americans LiveHigh rate of population growth presents a unique because most of the population live on only 1/3 of the region’s land because of varied climates and landscapes

Most people live along the coasts & inland plateaus

South America’s populated rim

Coastal regions have better climate, fertile land & access to transportation

Migration—major force shaping

population patterns in Latin America

Latin Americans emigrated to the United States for better economic opportunities

Many Asians are emigrated to Latin America

Internal migration into cities is causing rapid urbanization

History and Government 3 Native American Empires shaped the early history of Latin AmericaIncalived in the Andes mountain ranges of South Americastretched from Ecuador to central Chile; capital—Cuzco, in Perucentral government with an emperorused precise cut stones to build temples & fortresses; ex: Machu Pichu

cut terraces for farming; built irrigation systems

domesticated alpacas & llamas

used a quipu—system of financial record keeping that used a series of knotted cords of various colors & lengths to represent trade transactions

Empires to Nations

European colonies began shortly after Columbus’ voyagesColonies were sources of wealth for home countriesmining of silver & goldcoffee, bananas & sugar cane plantationsfarms & cattle ranches

Cities and towns were built as trade centers to send goods back to Europe

Native Americans were forced to work on plantations & ranches until disease & hardship dwindled their numbers

African slaves were then brought over

Move Toward Independence

Began in the late 1700s because resentment against European rule was building

Wealthy European colonists wanted self-rule

Revolutions in the US and France inspired them

o Haiti—first to gain independence from France

o Mexico—first Spanish ruled colony to gain independence

o Venezuela—Simon Bolivar led independence movement

o Argentina—Jose de San Martin

o Brazil—only one to gain independence peacefully

o Caribbean Islands—last to achieve independence (except Haiti)

o many still under foreign control

Ex: Martinique--France; Cayman Islands—Great Britain; Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands—US

Dictatorships Political & economic instability spread after wars for independencePower remained in the hands of a few—like in early Native American civilizations and European nationswealthy landowners, army officers, clergyWritten constitutions were ignored, revolts startedMilitary control was necessaryGave rise to caudillos or dictators; corrupt politics

Movement for Change As influence of the United States increased in Latin America, political, social & economic change occurred

ex: Panama—after independence in 1903, signed a treaty with the US creating the Panama Canal Zone

new industries formed, railroads were built, and trade expanded

wealth increased in Latin America and created middle & working classes in cities

gap between the rich & poor continued to grow though and created more unrest

Most of Latin America—military dictatorships gave way to democratically elected governments

still political instability in some countries

still trying to end corrupt politics throughout Latin America

Cuba’s government

One-party Communist state; the Cuban Communist party (PCC)

Government led by Fidel Castro