Latin America: Four Distinct Areas

1. Latin America: Four Distinct Areas • Mexico • Central America • South America • Islands of the Caribbean

2. Geography: Diverse landscape • 7,000 miles from Mexico to the tip of South America • Regular coastline – few natural harbors • Many physical barriers - Hinders unity, trade, and contact • Regionalism: loyalty to a specific locale/ geographic area • Prevents communication and cultural diffusion • Many regional differences

3. Geography: Mountains and Highlands • Andes Mtns: 4,500 miles in length, and source of most river systems. Peaks up to 22,384ft (Mt. Aconcagua), and many volcanoes and glaciers throughout. • Brazilian Highlands: 800 miles with highest pts over 7,000 ft. • Guina Highlands: 1,000 miles Venezuela to Brazil. Houses largest waterfall (Angel Falls) at 3,212ft.

4. Geography: Rivers – 3 large systems • Amazon River: 4,000 miles Peru to Atlantic. Vital transportation link. • Orinoco River: Starts in Guina Highlands and forms wide delta across Venezuela • Rio De La Plata: Third largest commercial waterway. Shallow and difficult to navigate

5. Geography: Plains and Deserts • Atacama Desert: Largest desert in South America; Driest in the world • Pampas: 294,000 square miles of cattle area in central Argentina • Patagonia: Southern Argentina. Beautiful yet very rugged.

6. Geography: Climate • Near or south of Equator • Tropical Rain Forests: ¾ of Latin America in tropical zone. Rain forests produce much of Earth’s oxygen. Deforestation: cutting down of trees in Amazon Rain Forest • Tropical Savannas: Northern and central portions of South America, several • Caribbean islands: Wet and dry seasons  • Arid Lands: Northern Mexico, Pacific coast of South America, southern part of Argentina

7. Geography: Natural Resources • Agriculture: Topography makes farming difficult • Grow cattle on grasslands and savannas • Crops on river lowlands and savannas • Half of the world’s coffee and bananas • 1/3rd of world’s sugar and cocoa • Cash crops (crops sold for profit): Many Latin American nations vulnerable to poor weather conditions and world price fluctuations • Mineral Resources: Oil in Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia • Bolivia: 2nd largest producer of tin in world • Chile: world’s largest exporter of copper • Mexico: large deposits of silver

8. Civilizations • For thousands of years (1500 BC – 1530 AD) native people of the Americas developed independently from the rest of the world. • 1. Mayans • II. Toltec • III. Aztecs • IV. Incas

9. Mayans – (maybe as early as 2000 BC) flourished 300-900 AD • Location: Yucatan Peninsula • Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador • Polytheism: Many gods • Religious rituals revolved around agricultural seasons • Political System: Noble class of warriors and hereditary priests • Accomplishments • System of writing and mathematics, use of zero • Hieroglyphic writing on stele (upright stone pillars) and manuscripts

10. Mayans: Accomplishments cont. • More accurate calendar than Europeans had at the time • Astronomical observatories: movement of planets • Elaborate art • Stone structures • Wall paintings • Huge works of architecture (flat top pyramids) • Used bricks, mortar, stucco • Frescoes • Great cities • Administrative and ceremonial centers • Large populations

11. Toltec – 750-900 AD • Location: Central Mexican Highlands; invaded Mayan territory • Political: Ruled by military and religious leaders jointly • Accomplishments: • Extensive trading network • Copper bells • Turquoise • Massive buildings, pyramids, ceremonial ball courts of stone • Painted ceramics • Metalwork in gold and copper

12. Aztecs: Flourished late 1100’s, warlike (1200-1521 AD) • Location: Central and Southern Mexico • Political: Warrior group with rigid class structure; slaves • Borrowed ideas from conquered people • Huge empire: Forced conquered people to pay tribute, used prisoners as daily human sacrifices to Gods

13. Aztecs: Accomplishments • Astronomy and Mathematics • Developed a calendar and counting system • Manuscripts • Elaborate irrigation systems • Hillside terracing for agriculture • Artificial lakes, causeways, island cities – Tenochtitlan (floating gardens) • Featherwork textiles • Metalwork in gold; silver • Jade objects • Semiprecious stones as jewelry

14. Incans: (200-1535 AD) warlike/farming culture • Location: Peru and parts of Ecuador, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina • Extensive empire: Several million people • Political: Inca rulers and rigid class system • Thought to be direct descendant of Sun God • Controlled people through priests and officials • Founded Dynasty • Inca owned all land and the people worked it for the ruler

15. Incan Accomplishments: • Extensive road network: runners • Potatoes • Quipu (kee poos): system of measurement and record keeping – knotted string – no writing • Hillside terracing • Medical knowledge of surgery and diseases • Elaborate building and engineering feats

16. 1492-1546: European Exploration and Conquest • Increased dependence on Europe • Exploitation of peoples and resources because of ethnocentric attitudes • Conquistadors (Conquerors): • Aztecs-Cortez • Incas – Pizarro • Guns, cannons, horses, diseases, enslaved survivors, shipped wealth to Europe • Spain, France, England, Netherlands and Portugal claimed lands

17. The Encomienda System • Spanish explorers who claimed lands in the New World set up institutions they were familiar with in Castile, which were strong links to their feudalistic history. They modified their model of feudalism to fit the needs and conditions in New Spain and the Caribbean. The encomienda system was created in May 1493 by the Crown in Castile who reserved the right to grant and remove the encomiendas as seen fit. The crown granted a person a specified number of natives for whom they were to take responsibility. The receiver of the grant was to instruct the natives in the Spanish language and in the Catholic faith. In return, they could exact tribute from the natives in the form of labor. The system created a rigid class structure within Latin America.

18. Encomienda Class structure • Peninsulares: Spanish officials sent to L.A. to govern colonies • Most prestige • Criollos: People born in colonies of Spanish parents • Looked down upon by Spanish officials and barred from highest positions in government • Educated and wealthy • Became leaders of revolutions • Mestizos / Mulattoes: Mixed Spanish, Indian, or African parents • Laborers and townspeople • Few political rights • Resentment grew because of low social status • Native Americans / African Slaves: Bottom of social structure • Worked on estates/mines - had few freedoms

19. Movements for Independence: • Reasons: • Unjust conditions stemming from colonial rule • Spread of the democratic ideals of the European Enlightenment • Successes of American and French Revolution • Wars fought against French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, which diverted Spanish and Portuguese attention from Latin America

20. Latin American Independence • Toussant L’Ouverture (1971): slaves on western half of French colony Haiti revolted under TL’s leadership. First to gain independence in 1804. • Simon Bolivar (“The Liberator”): educated/wealthy criollo fought for independence and unified Latin America. In1819 organized and led a successful revolt against Spanish. Later named president of Republic of Gran Colombia (Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama) • Jose de San Martin: Bolivar’s counterpart in the South who won independence for Argentina in 1816. Joined forces with Chilean general Bernardo O’Higgins. Crossed Andes and drove the Spanish from Chile – independence in 1818. Parts of Peru and Argentina freed in 1820’s.

21. Latin American Independence • Miguel Hidalgo and Jose Morelos: Catholic criollo priests helped Mexico gain their independence. Led Indians and mestizos in a revolution in 1821. Mexico gained its independence but the Spanish executed the priests • Independence for Brazil and the Caribbean • Brazil: Peaceful transition: Portugal granted independence in 1822 • Caribbean: Some today still not independent (Martinique and Cayman Islands)

22. Instability in Latin America • Obstacles after Independence: • Regional Differences: geographic barriers, border disputes, regional rivalries for power • Caudillos: leaders backed by military emerged in Latin American nations. Used law-and-order tactics - favored the upper class • Economic/Social Inequality: land and wealth in hands of few criollos. With the overthrow of colonial rule, Mestizos and Mulattos were denied equal rights. Slavery was abolished but Indians and Blacks had few rights. • Church Conservatism: powerful but conservative in Latin American society – rejected liberal changes that would reform Latin America

23. The Monroe Doctrine • US policy that prevented European powers from intervening in unstable Latin American nations • Closed Western Hemisphere to further European colonization • Great Britain supported this policy because they saw link between independence and new markets

24. The 20th Century: U.S. Involvement in Latin America • 1903: U.S. encourages Panama's independence from Colombia in order to acquire the Panama Canal rights. • 1905: Roosevelt Corollary/Monroe Doctrine declares U.S. policeman of the Caribbean • 1912: U.S. Marines invade Nicaragua and occupy the country almost continuously until 1933. • 1914: Mexican refusal to salute U.S. flag provokes shelling of Veracruz by a U.S. battleship and seizure of parts of the city. • 1954: The CIA engineers overthrow of democratically-elected government of Guatemala; 30 years of military dictatorship, repression, and violence follow.

25. The 20th Century: U.S. Involvement in Latin America • 1961: U.S. attempts to overthrow the revolutionary Cuban government at the Bay of Pigs. • 1973: The CIA helps overthrow the democratic government of Allende in Chile in favor of a bloody dictatorship. • 1981: The Reagan Administration begins the contra war against Nicaraguan civilians. • 1983: The U.S. invades Grenada to overthrow a popular government. • 1989: The U.S. invades Panama to arrest accused drug dealer Manual Noriega. • 1990: The U.S. intervenes in the Nicaraguan election process

26. Economic Imperialism in Latin America • Foreign Investment: Americans/Europeans invested billions in late 1800’s –Argentina and Brazil developed prosperous economies • Foreign Intervention: • Investor nations sent war ships to collect overdue loan payments and demanded economic concessions. • Instability/ frequent changes in governments were viewed as threats to foreign-owned businesses and investments • US and Europe supported caudillos who provided law and order

27. Since Democracy: Problems Arise • Democracy in most LA countries has not solved the corruption issue within government systems • Globalization has not benefitted the majority. Gap between rich and poor is growing • Ungoverned/poorly governed areas have led to the growth of illegal activities; mainly drug traffiking.

28. Noteworthy conflicts: Past and Present • 1976-1983: Argentina’s “Dirty War” against dissidents (11,000 disappear) • 1978: The Jonestown massacre (909 dead) • 1980’s: Colombia’s drug war with the US fuels wars between paramilitary and rebel groups (goes on for decades)

29. Past and Present cont…. • 1980’s: The Iran Contra Affair dealing with Nicaragua • 1995: War between Peru and Ecuador (Amazon River Basin)

30. Past and Present cont. • Venezuela: Hugo Chavez increasing executive power intensifies tensions with many • Bolivia suffers from what to do with natural gas, coca trade, and radical indigenous tribes • Brazil struggles with Amazon Rain Forest destruction • Political disputes in Honduras and Ecuador threaten stability.

31. Past and Present cont. • El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala are Central American countries in conflict • Haiti, the poorest country in the world deals with developing and the environment • Mexico is dealing with violent drug wars killing thousands of civilians • Population: Rapid population growth threatens economic development of Latin America – 455 million people in 1990 – projected to double by 2025