World Regions in Global Context:World Regions in Global Context:Peoples, Places, and Environments (3Peoples, Places, and Environments (3rdrd Ed.) Ed.)

Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, & Diana M. Liverman& Diana M. Liverman

Chapter 7: Chapter 7:

Latin AmericaLatin America

Robert M. ArthurRobert M. Arthur

Latin AmericaLatin America Shared LanguagesShared Languages Common HistoryCommon History

• European European colonialismcolonialism

• ReligionReligion• Independence – Independence –

1919thth C. C.

Sub-RegionsSub-Regions• Central AmericaCentral America• The Southern ConeThe Southern Cone• The CaribbeanThe Caribbean

Setting the BoundariesSetting the Boundaries

From the Rio Grande to Tierra del From the Rio Grande to Tierra del FuegoFuego

Most of Central America and South Most of Central America and South AmericaAmerica

Shared Colonial History: Iberian Shared Colonial History: Iberian CountriesCountries

Landforms & LandscapesLandforms & Landscapes The AndesThe Andes

• 5000 miles long5000 miles long• Highest point – Highest point –

22,830 ft.22,830 ft. The Amazon RiverThe Amazon River

• 2.3 million square 2.3 million square mile basinmile basin

• 20% of the World’s 20% of the World’s fresh waterfresh water

The Amazon The Amazon RainforestRainforest• 100,000 100,000 + + speciesspecies

The AltiplanoThe Altiplano The Caribbean BasinThe Caribbean Basin

Latin America

Environmental GeographyEnvironmental Geography

Neotropical Neotropical DiversityDiversity• Tropical Tropical

Ecosystems of the Ecosystems of the Western Western HemisphereHemisphere

Southern Venezuela

Natural Disasters & MineralsNatural Disasters & Minerals Tectonically ActiveTectonically Active

• VolcanoesVolcanoes MontserratMontserrat

• EarthquakesEarthquakes VolcanoesVolcanoes

• Rich soilsRich soils

Mineral WealthMineral Wealth• Silver and goldSilver and gold• Lead, zinc, tin Lead, zinc, tin

and ironand iron• BauxiteBauxite

EnergyEnergy• Oil and natural Oil and natural

gasgas Mexico and Mexico and

VenezuelaVenezuela

• CoalCoal

ClimateClimate Intertropical Intertropical

ConvergenceConvergence• Equatorial rainforestsEquatorial rainforests

Tropical SubsidenceTropical Subsidence• Sonoran and Sonoran and

Chihuahuan Deserts – Chihuahuan Deserts – MexicoMexico

• Altacama Desert – Altacama Desert – ChileChile

Trade WindsTrade Winds• Seasonal rainfallSeasonal rainfall

TopographyTopography• Orographic liftingOrographic lifting• Rainshadow effectRainshadow effect

Climate

Figure 4.14

Altitudinal Altitudinal ZonationZonation

Classification of Classification of environment and environment and land useland use• Changes in climate Changes in climate

and vegetation with and vegetation with elevationelevation

• Lower – warmerLower – warmer• Higher – coolerHigher – cooler

Tierra CalienteTierra Caliente Tierra TempladaTierra Templada Tierra FriaTierra Fria Tierra HeladaTierra Helada

• Different agricultural Different agricultural activities for each activities for each zonezone

Altitudinal ZonationAltitudinal Zonation

Environmental Issues – Overview

Figure 4.3

Wood Chips inChile

Environmental Issues (cont’d)Environmental Issues (cont’d)

Mexico CityMexico City

What aspects of What aspects of physical and physical and human geography human geography combine to combine to produce air produce air pollution in this pollution in this city?city?

Environmental Issues (cont’d)Environmental Issues (cont’d)

These satellite These satellite images were taken images were taken of Rondônia, Brazil of Rondônia, Brazil in 1975 and 2001in 1975 and 2001

What differences What differences do you see do you see between these two between these two time periods?time periods?

Environmental Issues (cont’d)Environmental Issues (cont’d) Cochabamba, Cochabamba,

BoliviaBolivia

How is this How is this landscape related landscape related to changes in to changes in agricultural agricultural productivity?productivity?

Topography – Western Topography – Western Mountains and Eastern ShieldsMountains and Eastern Shields

The AndesThe Andes Uplands of Mexico Uplands of Mexico

and Central and Central AmericaAmerica

The ShieldsThe Shields• Large upland areas Large upland areas

of exposed of exposed crystalline rockcrystalline rock

• Brazilian and Brazilian and Patagonian ShieldsPatagonian Shields

Lake Titicaca

Patagonia

Topography – Topography – River Basins River Basins

and Lowlandsand Lowlands

Figure 4.12Itaipú Dam

Hurricane MitchHurricane Mitch October 1998October 1998

• 4 ft. of rain in 48 4 ft. of rain in 48 hourshours

• Flooding and Flooding and mudslidesmudslides

• 10,000 dead10,000 dead• 20,000 missing20,000 missing• 2.5 m. dependent on 2.5 m. dependent on

aidaid Social VulnerabilitiesSocial Vulnerabilities HondurasHonduras

• 70% of agriculture 70% of agriculture wiped outwiped out

• ½ of export revenue ½ of export revenue

El NinoEl Nino Periodic Warming Periodic Warming

of Ocean Surfaceof Ocean Surface Warmer Water off Warmer Water off

Peru’s CoastPeru’s Coast Global Climatic Global Climatic

EffectsEffects• Droughts in Brazil, Droughts in Brazil,

Central America, Central America, and Australiaand Australia

• Flooding in Chile, Flooding in Chile, Bolivia, ParaguayBolivia, Paraguay

• Changes in North Changes in North American ClimateAmerican Climate

Environmental HistoryEnvironmental History

DomesticationDomestication• Plants: maize, manioc, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, squash, Plants: maize, manioc, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, squash,

avocadoes, pineapples, tobacco, vanilla, cacao, peanuts, cocaavocadoes, pineapples, tobacco, vanilla, cacao, peanuts, coca Animals: llamas, alpacas, dogs, guinea pigsAnimals: llamas, alpacas, dogs, guinea pigs

Environmental HistoryEnvironmental History MayansMayans

• Slash and burnSlash and burn• SwiddenSwidden• Environmental degradationEnvironmental degradation• Raised fieldsRaised fields

IncasIncas• Mountain environmentMountain environment• TerracesTerraces

AztecsAztecs• Dams, irrigation systems, Dams, irrigation systems,

drainage canalsdrainage canals• ChinampaChinampa

Water Water ResourcesResources

3 Largest Basins3 Largest Basins• The AmazonThe Amazon• The PlataThe Plata

Itaipu DamItaipu Dam

• The OrinocoThe Orinoco

LakesLakes• Lake NicaraguaLake Nicaragua• Lake TiticacaLake Titicaca

Waterfalls2Waterfalls2• Iguacu FallsIguacu Falls• Angel FallsAngel Falls

3230 ft. tallest in the World3230 ft. tallest in the World

Amazon BasinAmazon Basin

• 1.2 Billion Acres1.2 Billion Acres Tremendous Tremendous

biodiversitybiodiversity

• Resource PotentialResource Potential RubberRubber FrontierFrontier Government policies Government policies

of populatingof populating DeforestationDeforestation

• 15% cleared15% cleared• 50,000 square 50,000 square

miles each yearmiles each year

Costa RicaCosta Rica

EcotourismEcotourism• 12 Ecosystems12 Ecosystems

30% of its territory is 30% of its territory is bioreserve and bioreserve and wildlife preservewildlife preserve

850 bird species850 bird species 6000 flowering plants6000 flowering plants 200 animal species200 animal species 200 reptile species200 reptile species 35,000 insect species35,000 insect species Since 1995 800,000 Since 1995 800,000

tourists increasing by tourists increasing by 10% a year10% a year

The Colonial ExperienceThe Colonial Experience

1515thth C. – Spanish Begin Colonization C. – Spanish Begin Colonization• Viceroyalty system – Audiencias - Quinto RealViceroyalty system – Audiencias - Quinto Real

1494 – Treaty of Tordesillas Pope Alexander VI1494 – Treaty of Tordesillas Pope Alexander VI

The Columbian ExchangeThe Columbian Exchange Demographic Demographic

CollapseCollapse• Began ~ 1500Began ~ 1500• Virgin epidemicsVirgin epidemics• 75% of indigenous 75% of indigenous

peoples diedpeoples died• Abandonment of Abandonment of

settlements and fieldssettlements and fields• Scarcity of laborScarcity of labor

Pests Brought OverPests Brought Over• WeedsWeeds• Cats, ratsCats, rats• Competed with local Competed with local

speciesspecies

Exchange of Exchange of ProduceProduce• Goods went to Goods went to

Europe to be grown Europe to be grown there and elsewherethere and elsewhere

• Crops brought to Crops brought to Latin AmericaLatin America

AnimalsAnimals• Horses, cattle, pigs, Horses, cattle, pigs,

sheepsheep• OvergrazingOvergrazing• Soil erosionSoil erosion• DeforestationDeforestation

ColonizationColonization Land TenureLand Tenure

• LatifundiaLatifundia• MinifundiaMinifundia• HaciendasHaciendas

Domestic Domestic productionproduction

• PlantationsPlantations Export cropsExport crops MonocultureMonoculture

LaborLabor• EncomiendaEncomienda• RepartimientoRepartimiento• Slave tradeSlave trade

A Process A Process Spanning Two Spanning Two CenturiesCenturies

Differential Differential EffectsEffects

““Black Legend” of Black Legend” of Spanish ConquestSpanish Conquest

The Spanish MainThe Spanish Main• Piracy sponsored Piracy sponsored

by Britain, France, by Britain, France, and the Dutchand the Dutch

• Disrupt Spanish Disrupt Spanish shipmentsshipments

SugarSugar Transformed Latin Transformed Latin

AmericaAmerica• Began in the 1500’s in Began in the 1500’s in

BrazilBrazil• By 1800 the Caribbean By 1800 the Caribbean

produced 80% of the produced 80% of the World’s sugarWorld’s sugar

• Required slave laborRequired slave labor• Tremendous European Tremendous European

demanddemand Use in teaUse in tea MolassesMolasses RumRum

IndependenceIndependence 1810 - Miguel Hidalgo1810 - Miguel Hidalgo

• Grito (cry)Grito (cry)• MexicoMexico

1824 - Simon Bolivar1824 - Simon Bolivar• Northern South Northern South

AmericaAmerica Regional RevoltsRegional Revolts

• Mexico, Argentina, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Columbia, Chile Peru, Columbia, Chile and Braziland Brazil

• Venezuela, Ecuador, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay Bolivia and Paraguay

• Central America Central America separates from Mexicoseparates from Mexico

The CaribbeanThe Caribbean• 1804 - Haiti1804 - Haiti• 1844 - Dominican 1844 - Dominican

RepublicRepublic 1958 - West Indies 1958 - West Indies

FederationFederation• 1962 - Jamaica, 1962 - Jamaica,

Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago• 1966 - Barbados1966 - Barbados• 1967 - Dominica and 1967 - Dominica and

GrenadaGrenada Spanish American WarSpanish American War

• U.S. gets Cuba and U.S. gets Cuba and Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

U.S. DominanceU.S. Dominance 1823 1823

The Monroe DoctrineThe Monroe Doctrine• Called for European Called for European

non-interference in non-interference in Latin AmericaLatin America

• 1848 - U.S. War with 1848 - U.S. War with MexicoMexico

• U.S. InterferenceU.S. Interference Cuba (1896-1922)Cuba (1896-1922) Haiti (1915-1934)Haiti (1915-1934) Nicaragua (1909-1933)Nicaragua (1909-1933) Panama (1903 on)Panama (1903 on)

RevolutionsRevolutions• OligarchiesOligarchies• Banana RepublicsBanana Republics• Mexican Revolution (1910-Mexican Revolution (1910-

1920)1920)• Cuban Revolution (1959)Cuban Revolution (1959)

Bay of Pigs (1961)Bay of Pigs (1961)• Socialist Governments Socialist Governments

elected in Chile and elected in Chile and GuatemalaGuatemala

U.S. implicated in U.S. implicated in overthrow of these overthrow of these governmentsgovernments

• Nicaragua, Sandinistas Nicaragua, Sandinistas (1989)(1989)

Contras supported by U.S.Contras supported by U.S.

U.S. InterferenceU.S. Interference

Distinctive LandscapesDistinctive Landscapes Caribbean IslandsCaribbean Islands

• DiversityDiversity Wealth and povertyWealth and poverty CulturalCultural Coral reefs and Coral reefs and

Mangrove forestsMangrove forests Mountainous and flat Mountainous and flat

islandsislands Numerous languages Numerous languages

including Creoleincluding Creole• EconomyEconomy

AgricultureAgriculture Mining and oilMining and oil TourismTourism Free trade zonesFree trade zones Offshore bankingOffshore banking

Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development 1929 – Great 1929 – Great

DepressionDepression Import SubstitutionImport Substitution

• 1930s to 1960s1930s to 1960s• TariffsTariffs• Import quotasImport quotas• Nationalization with Nationalization with

global marketsglobal markets

• Government Government investment in new investment in new industriesindustries

• Stimulated growth Stimulated growth in local industry and in local industry and laborlabor

• Lack of integrationLack of integration

The Debt CrisesThe Debt Crises

Oil BoomOil Boom 1960s Borrowed Money1960s Borrowed Money 1980s Market Slump1980s Market Slump

• Unprecedented debtUnprecedented debt• Brazil - $111 billionBrazil - $111 billion• Mexico - $104 billionMexico - $104 billion• Venezuela - $33 billionVenezuela - $33 billion• The Lost Decade – 1980sThe Lost Decade – 1980s

Solutions: (U.S. & IMF)Solutions: (U.S. & IMF)• Extension of loansExtension of loans• Lend more moneyLend more money• ForgivenessForgiveness

Structural AdjustmentStructural Adjustment• Removal of subsidiesRemoval of subsidies• Removal of trade Removal of trade

barriersbarriers• PrivatizationPrivatization• Reduction of labor Reduction of labor

union powerunion power• Reduction of welfare Reduction of welfare

programsprograms• Poor hit very hardPoor hit very hard

MalnutritionMalnutrition DestitutionDestitution UnderemploymentUnderemployment

People of Latin People of Latin AmericaAmerica

50 million prior to Conquest50 million prior to Conquest Class StructureClass Structure

• PeninsularesPeninsulares European born SpanishEuropean born Spanish

• CriollosCriollos Spanish born in the AmericasSpanish born in the Americas

• CastasCastas Mixture of European and Mixture of European and

indigenous peoplesindigenous peoples• MulattoMulatto

Spanish and AfricanSpanish and African• ZamboZambo

African and indigenous peoplesAfrican and indigenous peoples• ““Whiteness” and European Whiteness” and European

cultural values favoredcultural values favored

Indigenous PopulationsIndigenous PopulationsCommunal Lands and Participatory Mapping President Evo Morales

of Bolivia

DiasporasDiasporas

AfricanAfrican• 5 million brought over 5 million brought over

during colonial periodduring colonial period• 3 million to Brazil3 million to Brazil• Slavery abolished in Slavery abolished in

1800s1800s• Maroon communitiesMaroon communities• Prejudice still existsPrejudice still exists• Lighter color is still Lighter color is still

equated with higher equated with higher statusstatus

Asian immigrationAsian immigration• Also began in the Also began in the

colonial periodcolonial period• Indentured workersIndentured workers

EuropeansEuropeans• Italian, German, Italian, German,

British, Welsh to British, Welsh to ArgentinaArgentina

• French to GuianaFrench to Guiana

Population GrowthPopulation Growth Currently 524 Currently 524

millionmillion• Brazil - 172 millionBrazil - 172 million• Mexico - 99 millionMexico - 99 million• Growth of 2%/yearGrowth of 2%/year• Doubling times less Doubling times less

than 35 yearsthan 35 years• Young populationsYoung populations• High to medium High to medium

fertility ratesfertility rates

Population Population and and

SettlementSettlement- Urban Primacy

- Megalopolis

Figure 4.17

São Paulo,Brazil

Demographic IndicatorsDemographic Indicators

Note variation in % urban across the region

Urban FormUrban Form

Reflects colonial origins and contemporary growth

MigrationMigration Urbanization – 50 to 90%Urbanization – 50 to 90%

• Mexico City 21 millionMexico City 21 million• Sao Paulo 19 millionSao Paulo 19 million• Buenos Aries 13 millionBuenos Aries 13 million• Rio de Janeiro 11.5 millionRio de Janeiro 11.5 million• Urban PrimacyUrban Primacy

Population Growth Population Growth and Movementsand Movements Rapid growth: Rapid growth:

1960s and 1970s1960s and 1970s

Flows within and Flows within and outside of Latin outside of Latin AmericaAmerica

Population Population MovementsMovements

Rural-to-Urban Rural-to-Urban MigrationMigration

Border MovementsBorder Movements

European MigrationEuropean Migration

Asian MigrationAsian Migration

JapaneseBrazilians

U.S.–Mexico Border

UrbanizationUrbanization

MigrationMigration• Rural to UrbanRural to Urban• Push – Pull FactorsPush – Pull Factors• Movement to Movement to

frontier regionsfrontier regions• Migration to other Migration to other

countriescountries Mexicans to U.S.Mexicans to U.S. Caribbean to Caribbean to

Britain, Canada, Britain, Canada, and U.S.and U.S.

““City of God”: Squatter Settlements City of God”: Squatter Settlements in Latin Americain Latin America

Importance of the Importance of the Informal SectorInformal Sector

Regional NamesRegional Names• ranchosranchos• favelasfavelas• barrios jovenesbarrios jovenes• Pueblo nuevosPueblo nuevos

Lima, Peru

Language & CultureLanguage & Culture

Many Indigenous Many Indigenous Languages Still SpokenLanguages Still Spoken• Mostly SpanishMostly Spanish• Portuguese in BrazilPortuguese in Brazil• English in Belize and GuyanaEnglish in Belize and Guyana• French in French GuianaFrench in French Guiana• Dutch in SurinameDutch in Suriname

Mexican and Caribbean Mexican and Caribbean Food Very PopularFood Very Popular

Latin MusicLatin Music ReggaeReggae

Gender Relations & ReligionGender Relations & Religion Gender RelationsGender Relations

• Strongly patriarchalStrongly patriarchal• MachismoMachismo• MarianismoMarianismo

Stereotypical gender Stereotypical gender rolesroles

• Women’s rights are Women’s rights are improving; improving; however, many however, many inequalities existinequalities exist

• Traditional culture Traditional culture holds back holds back improvementsimprovements

ReligionReligion• Catholicism very Catholicism very

strong (400 million)strong (400 million) Colonialism and Colonialism and

missionariesmissionaries

• Voodoo - 30 millionVoodoo - 30 million• Ancient Mayan – Ancient Mayan –

10 million 10 million• Liberation theologyLiberation theology• Fundamental Fundamental

Protestantism (40 Protestantism (40 million) million)

Transition to DemocracyTransition to Democracy Initial GovernmentsInitial Governments

• AuthoritarianAuthoritarian Single partySingle party

• MilitaryMilitary• SocialisticSocialistic• Centralized controlCentralized control• OppressiveOppressive

Social MovementsSocial Movements• Pressured Pressured

governmentsgovernments• Land reformLand reform• WelfareWelfare

Military GovernmentsMilitary Governments• ArgentinaArgentina

15,000 killed15,000 killed Many more fledMany more fled

• ChileChile General PinochetGeneral Pinochet Charged with similar Charged with similar

crimescrimes

Political ChangePolitical Change• End of cold warEnd of cold war• Grass roots Grass roots

movementsmovements• High levels of povertyHigh levels of poverty

Geopolitical Geopolitical FrameworkFramework

Treaty of Treaty of TordesillasTordesillas

Revolutionary Revolutionary Movements and Movements and IndependenceIndependence

Persistent Border Persistent Border ConflictsConflicts

Trends Toward Trends Toward DemocracyDemocracy

Figure 4.30

Green Revolution & Land ReformGreen Revolution & Land Reform Land ReformLand Reform

• Most of the good Most of the good land owned by the land owned by the wealthy fewwealthy few

• Broken up and Broken up and redistributed to the redistributed to the peasantspeasants

• MexicoMexico 52% given to rural 52% given to rural

peoplespeoples EjidosEjidos

• BoliviaBolivia 79% redistributed79% redistributed

• Guatemala, Chile Guatemala, Chile and Nicaraguaand Nicaragua

20% + redistributed20% + redistributed

Green RevolutionGreen Revolution• Improve Improve

productivityproductivity High yield cropsHigh yield crops MachineryMachinery IrrigationIrrigation FertilizersFertilizers PesticidesPesticides

Green RevolutionGreen Revolution ProblemsProblems

• Increased irrigation Increased irrigation caused salinizationcaused salinization

• Caused economic Caused economic dependencydependency

• Only helped the wealthyOnly helped the wealthy• Environmental Environmental

degradationdegradation• Loss of genetic diversityLoss of genetic diversity

Second RevolutionSecond Revolution• BiotechBiotech• Nontraditional agricultural Nontraditional agricultural

exports - NTAEsexports - NTAEs

Regional Regional OrganizationsOrganizations

- Supranational: Trade Blocks

- Subnational: Ethnicity/Ideology

Development StrategiesDevelopment Strategies

Informal Sector in PeruHigh Tech in Costa Rica

Development Strategies (cont’d)Development Strategies (cont’d)

Primary Export Dependency Oil Production

São Paulo State, Brazil Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela

Figure 4.6.1 Figure 4.6.2a

Figure 4.6.2b

Maquiladora Cities – Contrasts in Wealth and Poverty

Insurgencies and Insurgencies and Drug TraffickingDrug Trafficking

Colombian National Police

The Drug EconomyThe Drug Economy High Priced CropsHigh Priced Crops

• Peasant farmers can Peasant farmers can earn much more than earn much more than traditional cropstraditional crops

MarijuanaMarijuana CocaCoca OpiumOpium

• $632 per kg of coca $632 per kg of coca leavesleaves

Drug CartelsDrug Cartels• Government instabilityGovernment instability

War on DrugsWar on Drugs• Spray cropsSpray crops• Arrest dealersArrest dealers• ““Reduce demand”Reduce demand”

Regional InequalitiesRegional Inequalities IncomeIncome

• From average to poorFrom average to poor• 120 million earn less 120 million earn less

than $2 dailythan $2 daily EmploymentEmployment

• Informal economyInformal economy• UnderemploymentUnderemployment

HealthHealth• Better on average than Better on average than

most regionsmost regions• Wide variations within Wide variations within

the regionthe region

Distinctive Distinctive LandscapesLandscapes

The AndesThe Andes• Mountains and Mountains and

volcanoesvolcanoes• AltiplanoAltiplano• Lake TiticacaLake Titicaca• AgricultureAgriculture• GrazingGrazing• MiningMining• TourismTourism

Incan RuinsIncan Ruins Mountain climbingMountain climbing

• Indigenous peoplesIndigenous peoples• PovertyPoverty

Cultural Diversity – HistoricCultural Diversity – Historic Demographic Demographic

Collapse and Collapse and Indigenous Indigenous PopulationsPopulations

Columbian Columbian ExchangeExchange

Tikal, Guatemala

Social DevelopmentSocial DevelopmentPresident Bachelet, Chile

End of Chapter 7:End of Chapter 7:

Latin AmericaLatin America

World Regions in Global Context:World Regions in Global Context:Peoples, Places, and Environments (3Peoples, Places, and Environments (3rdrd Ed.) Ed.)

Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, Sallie A. Marston, Paul L. Knox, & Diana M. Liverman& Diana M. Liverman