Latin America

1. Latin America Rich with culture, beauty, and mystery…

2. South America + Central America = Latin America Central America South America

3. What do all Latin Americans have in common? 1. History 2. Languages 3. Religions 4. Challenges

4. Latin American History

5. Indigenous (or native) Americans http://news.spirithit.com/images/uploads/culture_art_ext_194x215/12.16.04_aztec-1_378.jpg Latin America was originally inhabited by many native cultures, including the Aztec, Mayan, and Incan tribes. Their artwork, architecture, languages, religions, and mathematics were very complex, and sometimes even more advanced than the Europeans’. They built huge cities, like the ones below, over a thousand years ago. http://www.samtheflashman.co.uk/ln/wp-content/uploads/112404_mayan_378.jpg http://www.jazzbots.com/web/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/aztec_pyramid_gathering.jpg

6. Major Accomplishments Mayan Calendar http://deniselefay.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/mayan-calendar-11.jpg The Mayans were excellent astronomers (people who study the stars), as well as mathematicians. Their calendar was far more accurate than the European one, with 365 and 1/4 days. The temple below is actually a calendar. Each of the 4 stairways has 91 steps, and there is a platform at the top, adding up to 365. Many of the Mayan temples, like this one, are built like sundials, where the shadow can be used to determine the date. This kind of planning takes advanced mathematics—pretty impressive for something built over 1,000 years ago! http://www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-mayan.html

7. Major Accomplishments Another native group, the Incas, built the city below, known as Machu Picchu, in the Andes Mountains of Peru. This city is considered to be one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The city is invisible from below, and it is built like a calendar (much like the Aztec sites). Machu Picchu was abandoned in the 1500s, and not rediscovered until 1911 (that’s how well-hid it was!). The giant head below was created by a group known as the Olmecs, one of the earliest native groups in Latin America. Several of these heads have been found in the jungles along Mexico’s Gulf Coast. They are 6 feet tall and 5 feet across. These stones weigh tons, and this one was moved over 50 miles. People today wonder, what were these heads used for? https://gordon.wiki.ccsd.edu/file/view/Olmec_Head.jpg

8. Colonialism • Just like Africa, Latin America was colonized by the Europeans as they competed to gain natural resources, wealth, and power. Most of the colonization came at the hands of the Spanish and Portuguese. • Europeans thought Latin America had lots of gold, and explorers searched thousands of miles to find it. However, little gold was ever found.

9. Mistaken Identity • When Europeans first arrived in Latin America in the 1500s, many of the Native Americans believed them to be gods because of their white skin and light hair. • Natives had also never seen a horse, and when they first saw Europeans riding on a horse, they thought it was a strange new creature: half man and half beast.

10. European Motives Most Europeans believed that by colonizing Latin America, they were helping the natives. Europeans thought the natives were savages and uncivilized because of their strange clothing, different religions, and unfamiliar languages. We know now that the Europeans were wrong—natives had very advanced cultures. Unfortunately, when the Europeans came, they destroyed many of the native sites. Much of the history of the native groups was lost when their buildings and temples were destroyed, so today we know very little about their past. Europeans also enslaved many natives, forced natives to convert to Christianity, and claimed American land for their kings & queens. This is one of the most sad parts of Latin American history. http://america.bibl.u-szeged.hu/CH1_A/image108.jpg

11. Europeans spread their languages and religions to Latin America. The country that ended up controlling the majority of Latin America was Spain, making Spanish the main language spoken in Latin America today. Portugal also settled a major area of Latin America, including Brazil. Thus, the language in Brazil is Portuguese.

12. Latin American Languages • Green areas on this map show countries where Spanish is spoken. • Brazil, the largest country in South America, has Portuguese as its official language. • Throughout Latin America, there are also many indigenous languages used.

13. Roman Catholicism Roman Catholicism is the predominant (main) religion in Latin America. It is a branch of Christianity. Use the color key on the map to figure out what percentage of people in different countries are Roman Catholic.

14. Other religions Roman Catholicism is the major Latin American religion, but there are also Protestant Christian churches and indigenous religions. These indigenous religions often are mixed with Christianity. Some people, for example, go to Catholic mass on Sunday and then take part in an indigenous spiritual ritual later in the week for good luck.

15. Independence! • This map shows the years Latin American countries got their independence from European countries.

16. Today’s Challenges for Latin America http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-12/02/xinsrc_452120402125125003165.jpg Latin America still faces many challenges. When Europeans left, most Latin American countries faced revolutions & chaos. Their governments today are either very weak (allowing for lots of violence) or too controlling. Most countries in Latin America are also very poor because of their unstable governments.

17. Today’s Challenges for Latin America Another challenge in Latin America is the illegal drug trade. Countries like Colombia & Mexico have huge problems with powerful drug cartels (groups). These cartels smuggle drugs into other countries, like the US, and create violent outbreaks wherever they go. Many weak Latin American governments do not have the power to stop the drug cartels. Latin America alone is responsible for 82% of all heroin sold; the country of Colombia sells 75% of all cocaine.