Central America and the Caribbean Islands

1. CHAPTER 9 Central America and the Caribbean Islands Section 1: Physical Geography Section 2: Central America Section 3: The Caribbean Islands

2. Section 1Physical Geography Objectives: • What are the physical features of Central America and the Caribbean Islands? • What climates are found in the region? • What natural resources does the region have?

3. Section 1Physical Geography Central America • Bridge between North and South America • No place more than 125 miles from the sea • Mountains separate Caribbean and Pacific coastal plains

4. Section 1Physical Geography The Caribbean Islands: Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, the Bahamas • A curved archipelago • Earthquakes and volcanic activity frequent

5. Section 1Physical Geography Central American Climates • Humid tropical plains, rain forests, highland climates, tropical savanna, cloud forests Caribbean Climates • Humid tropical, tropical savanna • Hurricanes are common.

6. Section 1Physical Geography Natural Resources • Agriculture: coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton • Timber • Tourism • Jamaica is rich in bauxite (aluminum ore).

7. Section 2Central America Objectives: • What was Central America’s early history like? • How is the region’s history reflected in its people today? • What are the countries of Central America like today?

8. Section 2Central America Central America’s Early History • Large Maya civilizations • European colonies formed in 1500s; Indians forced into labor • Enslaved Africans brought over • Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua establish independence by 1839; Panama in 1903; Nicaragua in late 1800s; Belize in 1981

9. Section 2Central America The History and the People Today • Mestizos—the largest ethnic group • Spanish, Indian languages, and English all spoken • Roman Catholics, Indian religious influences, and Protestants present • Elected governments

10. Section 2Central America Central American Countries Today • Guatemala—large Maya population; coffee, cardamom; civil unrest since 1960s • Belize—population of 236,000; heavy tourism • Honduras—Rugged terrain; fruit exports • El Salvador—fertile soil; coffee, sugarcane; poverty

11. Section 2Central America (continued)Central American Countries Today • Nicaragua—rebuilding after civil war; fledgling democracy • Costa Rica—stable government; coffee, bananas; ecotourism • Panama—prospers from canal fees; heavy U.S. influence

12. Section 3The Caribbean Islands Objectives: • What was the Caribbean’s history like? • How is the region’s history reflected in its people today? • What are the countries of the Caribbean like today?

13. Section 3The Caribbean Islands Caribbean’s History • 1492—Columbus arrives and names the West Indies; Spanish colonies established; disease kills many Indians • 1600–1700s: English, French, Dutch, Danish colonies established • Enslaved Africans brought over • Independence declared from 1804 to last half of 1900s

14. Section 3The Caribbean Islands History and the People • Most islanders are African and European descent or a mixture. • English, French, mixed European, and African languages spoken • Colonists’ religions still practiced; often influenced by traditional African religions • Diet influenced by Africa, Asia, and elsewhere

15. Section 3The Caribbean Islands History and the People (continued) • Carnival is the biggest holiday. • Calypso, reggae, and merengue music important • American baseball has developed in the Caribbean.

16. Section 3The Caribbean Islands The Caribbean Today • Cuba—most populous; Communist since 1959; no U.S. trade; sugarcane, tourism important industries • Haiti—very poor; corrupt governments; coffee, sugarcane important industries • Dominican Republic—first European settlement in west; poor; agriculture, tourism important industries

17. Section 3The Caribbean Islands The Caribbean Today (continued) • Puerto Rico—U.S. commonwealth; developed economy • Other islands—Jamaica; St. Kitts; many islands are territories of other countries