Physical Geography

1. Physical Geography The Big Idea The physical geography of Central America and the Caribbean islands includes warm coastal lowlands, cooler highlands, and tropical forests. Main Ideas • Physical features of the region include volcanic high lands and coastal plains. • The climate and vegetation of the region include forested highlands, tropical forests, and humid lowlands. • Key natural resources in the region include rich soils for agriculture, a few minerals, and beautiful beaches.

2. Main Idea 1: Physical features of the region include volcanic high lands and coastal plains. Central America • Southern part of North America • Includes Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama • An isthmus, or narrow strip of land that connects two larger land areas • No wider than 125 miles between Pacific Ocean and CaribbeanSea • Chain of mountains and volcanoes divides Caribbean and Pacific coastal plains • No good water route, so difficult to travel The Caribbean Islands • Across from Central America in the Caribbean Sea • An archipelago, a large group of islands • GreaterAntilles: Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico • LesserAntilles: Small islands from Virgin Islands to Trinidad to Tobago • Bahamas: 700 islands • Formed from tops of underwater mountains or volcanoes and coral reefs pushed up by colliding tectonic plates

3. Main Idea 2: The climate and vegetation of the region include forested highlands, tropical forests, and humid lowlands. • Humid tropical and tropical savanna climates • Pacific coast savannas cleared for plantations and ranches • Caribbean coast rain forest Islands and Coastal Plains Inland Mountains • Cool, humid climates • Cloudforest, or a moist, high-elevation tropical forest where low clouds are common

4. Climate Temperatures • Little change from • Day to night • Summer to winter • Change in season marked by change in rainfall • Winters dry • Summers wet Hurricanes • Threaten from summer to fall • Violent winds, heavy rains, and high seas • Occur mostly from June to November • Destruction and loss of life

5. Main Idea 3: Key natural resources in the region include rich soils for agriculture, a few minerals, and beautiful beaches. • Land and climate attract tourists. • Volcanic ash enriched soil • Crops include coffee, bananas, sugarcane, and cotton. • Export timber from rain forests • Very few mineral and energy resources

6. Central America The Big Idea Central America’s native traditions and colonial history have created a mixed culture, unstable governments, and uncertain economies. Main Ideas • The history of Central America was mostly influenced by Spain. • The culture of Central America is a mixture of Native American and European traditions. • The countries of Central America today have challenges and opportunities.

7. Main Idea 1: The history of Central America was mostly influenced by Spain. Early History • AD 250–900: Maya built large cities with pyramids and temples. • Maya descendents live in Guatemala and Belize. • Early 1500s: Europeans controlled most of Central America. • Britain: Belize and Nicaragua’s coast • Spain: Large plantations of tobacco and sugarcane • Forced Indians and enslaved Africans to work in mines and plantations Independence • 1821: Independence from Spain • Remained joined as the United Provinces of Central America • 1838-1839: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala separated. • 1903: Panama and Columbia separated. • 1981: Belize independence

8. Wars and Peace Since Independence • Wealthy landowners continued to run countries. • Economy remained based on bananas and coffee. • Early to mid-1900s: U.S.-based United Fruit Company controlled most of banana production. • The company developed railroads and port facilities. • This development improved transportation and communication. • People resented role of foreign companies. • Mid- to late 1900s: Demands for reform led to armed struggles in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. • Peace achieved only in recent years

9. Main Idea 2: The culture of Central America is a mixture of Native American and European traditions. People and Languages • Most people are mestizos, or people of mixed European and Indian ancestry. • Descendents of ancient Maya live in Guatemalan Highlands and other places. • People of African ancestry live mostly along the Caribbean coast. • People speak mostly Spanish, but also native Indian languages and English. Religion, Festivals, and Food • Most people are Roman Catholic. • Indian traditions influenced Catholicism. • Celebrations are tied to religion: special saints’ feast days and Easter. • Traditional foods are corn, tomatoes, hot peppers, and cacao. Next

10. Main Idea 3: The countries of Central America today have challenges and opportunities. Honduras • Mountainous country • Transportation difficult because of rugged land • Little land for farming • Exports: citrus fruits and bananas Guatemala • More than 14 million people • Most mestizos; almost half Indian • Live mostly in small villages in highlands • 1960-1996: Fighting killed 200,000 people. • Crops: coffee and cardamom Belize • Smallest population in Central America • Not much land for agriculture • Ecotourism, the practice of using an area’s natural environment to attract tourists

11. Central America Today • El Salvador • Land owned by a few rich people • 1980s-1992: Civilwar, a conflict between two or more groups within a country • Fertile soil to grow coffee and sugarcane • Costa Rica • History of peace and stable, democratic government • Progress toward reducing poverty • Crops: coffee and bananas • Tourism to rain forests • Nicaragua • 1979: Dictator overthrown by Sandinistas • 1979-1990: Civil war • Rebels aided by the U.S. • 1990: Democratic elections pushed Sandinistas out of power. • Panama • Narrow, southernmost country • Canal links Caribbean Sea and Pacific and Atlantic Oceans • PanamaCanal fees and industry make this region prosperous. • 1914-1999:Canal controlled by U.S.

12. The Caribbean Islands The Big Idea The Caribbean islands have a rich history and culture influenced by European colonization. Main Ideas • The history of the Caribbean islands includes European colonization followed by independence. • The culture of the Caribbean islands shows signs of past colonialism and slavery. • Today the Caribbean islands have distinctive governments with economies that depend on agriculture and tourism.

13. Main Idea 1: The history of the Caribbean islands includes European colonization followed by independence. • 1492: Christopher Columbus discovered the Caribbean islands, believing them to be the Indies. • The islands are now 13 independent countries. • These countries show the influence of the first European colonizers.

14. History Early History • Columbus thought he had reached the Indies, and so he called the Caribbean the West Indies. • 1600s-1700s: The English, French, Dutch, and Danish established colonies on the islands. • They built sugarcane plantations that required many workers. • Most Caribbean Indians died from disease, so Europeans brought enslaved Africans. • Africans and their descendents outnumbered Europeans. Independence • 1804: Toussaint-L’Ouverture helped Haiti win independence from France and freedom for slaves. • Mid-1800s: Dominican Republic • 1902: Cuba from U.S. • After World War II, other Caribbean countries gained independence. • Some islands, such as Martinique and Guadeloupe, are still not independent.

15. Main Idea 2: The culture of the Caribbean islands shows signs of past colonialism and slavery. • Most islanders are descended from Europeans, Africans, or both. • Some Asians, who came to work on plantations after slavery ended, live on the island. People Language • People speak Spanish, English, French, and mixtures of African and European languages. • Haitians speak French Creole, which is a dialect, or a regional variety of a language. Religion • Former colonies are mostly Roman Catholic. • People also blend Catholicism and traditional African religions.

16. Caribbean Culture • Islanders celebrate a variety of holidays. • The most widespread is Carnival, before Lent, when people celebrate with big parades, fancy costumes, and music. Festivals Foods • Caribbean food reflects past. • Yams and okra from Africa • In Barbados, souse is made of pigs’ tails, ears, and snouts because slaveholders gave slaves the leftover parts of the pig. • People from India brought curry to the region.

17. Main Idea 3: Today the Caribbean islands have distinctive governments with economies that depend on agriculture and tourism. Dominican Republic • Eastern part of Hispaniola • More developed than Haiti but not rich • Capital Santo Domingo is the first permanent European settlement in Western Hemisphere. • Economy: agriculture and growing tourism Puerto Rico • U.S. commonwealth, or a self-governing territory associated with another country • People are U.S. citizens with no voting rights. • More developed than other Caribbean countries due to U.S. aid and investment Haiti • Mountainous western third of Hispaniola • Small farms, but exports coffee and sugarcane • Poorest country due to corruption • Many become refugees, or people fleeing to another country for political or economic reasons.

18. Caribbean Islands Today Cuba • Largest and most populous island with Havana as capital • Since 1959: Run by a Communist government headed by Fidel Castro • Communists took over U.S. owned businesses, so U.S. banned trade. • Farms are cooperatives, or organizations owned by its members and operated for mutual benefit. • Government controls the media. Other Islands • Jamaica is the largest of these other islands. • Saint Kitts and Nevis is the smallest. • A number of islands are territories of the U.S., Britain, France, and the Netherlands. • Some islands have land to grow coffee, sugarcane, and spices. • Others attract tourists. • New construction for tourists can harm natural environment.

19. This is the end of the chapter presentation of lecture notes. Click the HOME or EXIT button.

20. Print Slide Show • On the File menu, select Print • In the pop-up menu, select Microsoft PowerPoint If the dialog box does not include this pop-up, continue to step 4 • In the Print what box, choose the presentation format you want to print: slides, notes, handouts, or outline • Click the Print button to print the PowerPoint presentation