Transcript Unit 5, Chapter 8

Unit 5, Chapter 8
Central America and The Caribbean
St. Marten
Dominican Republic
Anguilla
Favela
Food Line
Dump City in Guatemala
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeumQAKQJDA
Introduction into Central America and
Caribbean

Columbian Exchange
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQPA5oNpfM4
How were the lifestyles of the
indigenous peoples altered?
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Wiped out most of the native population
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Horses, long extinct in the region, were
re-introduced. The Spanish quickly
overran the indigenous people.
•
It transformed the Americas warfare,
hunting, and culture.
•
Initiated one of the largest cultural
transformations in human history.
Physical Geography of
Central America and the
Caribbean
Landforms

Much of Central America is hilly and mountainous, although swamps and
lowlands extend along both coasts.
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The Pacific Lowlands

The Caribbean Lowlands

The Central Highlands

The ISTHMUS, a narrow strip of land connecting two large strips of land, of
Panama extends west to east connecting North and South America and
separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Panama.

The Islands of the Greater and Lesser Antilles are part of an ARCHIPELAGO, a
group or chain of islands, they were formed from collisions in the Caribbean
plate and other tectonic plates.
The Pacific Lowlands
•
Extend from Guatemala and Panama
The Caribbean lowlands
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Narrow except in Nicaragua and Honduras
The Central Highlands
•
The region climbs steadily higher west,
and home to more than 40 volcanic cones
that reach elevations of more than 12,000
feet.
•
This is called the Volcanic Highlands, or
Volcanic Axis and are an extension of the
Sierra Madres.
•
The lava produces very fertile soil making
it a rich agricultural area and an area of
dense population
The Central Highlands (continued)
•
They are in the Ring of Fire so it brings potential hazards, yet humans have
thrived there for centuries.
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Cooler climate
•
Adequate rainfall
•
Rich national resources: water, volcanic soil, timber and minerals
Water Systems – Inland lakes and waterways play
a vital role in Central America, aiding growth and
development


Water systems provide: transportation, drinking water, drainage, irrigation,
and a source of hydroelectric power.

Lake Nicaragua: largest freshwater lake in Central America. It is the only lake in the world
to contain oceanic life. It has sharks, swordfish and tarpon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMMG5C9ipzU

Lake Managua: Commercially viable fish and alligators. It is drained by a river that feeds
Lake Nicaragua and fed by stream from the highlands.
Many of Central America’s rivers provide commercial water routes because
they are short and steep

San Juan River

The Lempa River, the only navigable river in the area and it generates hydroelectricity
The Panama Canal bisects the
Isthmus of Panama.
•
One of the worlds most important
waterways.
•
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQQ
3EuGL3QI
Climate, Biomes, and Resources:
Climates are
dependent on many factors such as proximity to the sea,
elevation, latitude, and local topography

For much of this region its location in the tropics and prevailing winds carry
warm, moist air from the Atlantic Ocean which results in high temperatures
and abundant rainfall year round

A Tropical Rainforest climate dominates much of Central America.

Has a continuous canopy of trees

Species include trees, ferns, mosses, birds, bats, small animals, and insects

Costa Rica and Panama are global Biodiversity hotpots. BIODIVERSITY, an environment as
indicated by numbers of different species of plants and animals.
Climates, Biomes, and Resources
continued

A Tropical wet/dry climate is typical of the Caribbean Islands.

Moist winds sweep from the east. This leaves leeward Island areas (those not exposed to
wind) dry.

Most islands have high temperatures and rainfall, but also extended dry seasons.

Intense hurricanes from June to November in the northern Caribbean and the Gulf of
Mexico
Climates, Biomes, and Resources
continued

Vertical climates

Tierra caliente (hot Land) lies below 2500 ft. Bananas and Sugarcane are grown
here

Tierra templada (temperate lands) lies between 2500-6000 ft and is the most
densely populated region.

Tierra fria (cold land) lies between 6000-10000 ft. Winter frost is common and
potatoes and barley are grown here

Tierra helada (frozen land) is above 10,000 ft. and is an area of permanent ice and
snow.
Natural resources

Nickle

Iron ore
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Fish
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Timber

Petroleum

Guatemala refines petroleum, while Belize extracts crude oil.
Human Geography of Central
America and the Caribbean
Chapter 8.2
History and Government

The voyages of Christopher Columbus to the Americas in 1492-1504 triggered
a period of conquest and colonization in Central America and the Caribbean.

Spain founded the regions first permanent settlement on the Island of
Hispaniola in 1493.

Rodrigo de Bastidas made Spain’s first claim to Central America in March
1501.

Pedro Arias Davila (Pedrarias) expanded the colony but liked to enslave and
murder the indigenous people so he was not liked by the people.

1519 Panama was established

Francisco de Cordoba established Granada in 1524

Costa Rico was established in 1561
Other European Countries

Britain colonized Belize and the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua

France, The Netherlands, and Portugal eventually established colonies
1600-1996

By the 1600’s forced labor, starvation, and disease had nearly wiped out the
indigenous population. This hurt the bottom line, they needed workers, so the
brought forcibly captured, enslaved Africans to the Americas to do the work.

By 1700’s African and Indigenous people began to take organized action to
free themselves from slavery and European rule.

1804 Haiti won it’s independence

Most Caribbean colonies did not gain independence until the 1900’s.

Some islands still remain under foreign control

1823 the federation of the United Provinces of Central America was formed.
They divided into Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and
Nicaragua
1600-1996 continued

1903 Panama declared its independence from Columbia and signed a treaty
with the United States creating the Panama Canal Zone.

1959 Cuban revolution produced a communist state ruled by Fidel Castro

1996 Guatemala held its first democratic election
Haiti pg. 219

What role did Haiti play in the movement for independence from European
control in the region?
Population Patterns

60% are mestizos, 20% are indigenous, 20% mixed ancestry
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79% live in the Highlands
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Most countries have a single primate city

Caribbean countries combine small land areas with large populations and this
causes POPULATION PRESSURE– the sum of factors in a population that
reduce the ability of the environment to support the population, therefore
resulting in migration or population decline

In 2007 Central America had more than 40 million people, quadruple their
population in 1950.
Society and Culture today
•
In the Caribbean, primary languages
include: Dutch, English, French, and
Spanish. Each Country has its own
DIALECT, local form of language used in a
particular place or by a certain group.
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Some speak a form Of PATOIS, a dialect
used in everyday speech that blends
elements of several languages.
Religions
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80% are Catholic in this area
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Protestant religion is common where
English is spoken
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Hinduism, Islam, indigenous, and African
religions. These are sometimes mixed
with Christianity and other faiths.
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Santeria in Cuba
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Voodoo in Haiti
Family and status
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Children are required to complete
elementary school, but many do not
because they lack money for clothes,
books, and many schools are a long way
away.
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The Caribbean: the structure is
MATRIARCHAL, family ruled by a woman
such as a mother, grandmother, or aunt.
•
Central America: Male dominated
Economic Activities
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Countries in Central America and the Caribbean face the challenge of
developing and diversifying economies in which wealth is unevenly
distributed.

Agriculture employs more workers than other sectors. You have large, wealthy
families that own the land, yet they are worked by the poor. These are known
as latifundia, large agricultural estates owned by families or corporations
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These people are called minifundia, which are small farms that produce
food chiefly for family use.

Many countries are still considered less developed and most industrial
employment is in COTTAGE INDUSTRIES, a business that employs workers in
their home.
Ecotourism

ECOTOURISM, the practice and business of recreational travel based on
concern for the environment, provide new opportunities.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWvGHJlQQ1g
People and their
Environment
Chapter 8.3
Managing Resources
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Water shortages
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Access to freshwater
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Legal issues related to waterway issues.
Water issues

Center of border disputes through Central Americas history

Countries have resorted to hydro electricity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnPEtwQtmGQ

Hydroelectricity threatens natural environments of the areas from which they
extract the energy.
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Floods areas
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Removes people and animals from the area
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Alters habitats and devastates natural fish population
Other issues

Slash-and-burn farming
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubzTJhbsWFI
Human Impact

As population grows this area exceeds available resources like housing,
running water, sewage systems, and electricity.
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Thousands live in slums
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High pollution rates from overloaded sewage, electric and water systems.
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Air pollution affects people in areas without clean air policies
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Disease from sewage
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High demand of food as population grows
Addressing the Issues

Central America and the Caribbean face many international challenges,
including conflicts over natural resources and the need to prepare for wide
scale natural disasters.

If deforestation is not addressed the rain forests will be reduced to almost
nothing in the next 40 years. Answers lie in sustainable development. Laws
requiring REFORESTATION, planting young trees or seeds on lands where
trees have been cut or destroyed.

Initiatives to develop “green businesses are underway. These include
environmentally-friendly organic foods, renewable energy and sustainable
tourism.

REDD: a United Nations initiative that stands for Reducing Emissions from
Deforestation and Forest Degradation
Addressing the Issues continued
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PRODESEC: This is an economic development program for the dry region of
Nicaragua. It is a plan aimed at providing new opportunities for new families

Human activity is not the only problem. Because of where it is located the
region is vulnerable to hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes. Governments are
using sophisticated technology, such as satellite imaging and computer
models, to forecast where the next natural disaster will occur.