ms. soles social studies lesson 25 south america: paraguay
TRANSCRIPT
Ms. Soles
Social Studies
Lesson 25
South America: Paraguay
Where in the world is Paraguay?
Let’s learn the following about Paraguay:
1) Physical Characteristics2) History3) Government4) Economy5) People and Culture6) Plants and Animals
Facts About Paraguay
•Name: Paraguay(long form) Republic of Paraguay
•Capital City: Asuncion (680,250 pop.)(2,164,316 metro)
•Paraguay Population: 6,460,000 (2010 est.)
Currency: Paraguay Guarani
•Ethnicity: Mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5% GDP per capita: $4,900 (2010 est)
•Language: Spanish (official), Guarani (official)
•Largest Cities: (by population) Asuncion, San Lorenzo, Capiata, Lambare, Fernando de la Mora, Limpio, Nemby
•Name: The official name is a compound phrase of a few Guaraní words. The literal translation contains three words. First, Para which means "of many varieties". Second, Gua which means "belonging to or place". Third, Y which means "water, river or lake".
•National Day: May 15 •Religion: Roman Catholic 89.6%, Protestant 6.2%, other Christian 1.1%, other or unspecified 1.9%, none 1.1%
Cities/Towns in Paraguay
Asunción, the capital of Paraguay
Physical Characteristics
•Land Area: (land) 153,398 sq miles (397,300 sq km) (water) 3,659 sq miles (9,450 sq km) (TOTAL) 157,057 sq miles (406,750 sq km)
•Land Divisions: 17 departments and 1 capital city
•Horizontal Width: 680 km (422 miles)
•Vertical Length: 667 km (414 miles)
•Paraguay is landlocked and crisscrossed by many rivers. The three largest - the Paraguay, Parana and Pilcomayo - form over 75% of the country's borders.
• Two major regions divide the country; the Paranena, east of the Paraquay River, is a fertile, cultivated landscape, with rolling hills, low mountains and subtropical forests.
Rich landscape of Paraguay on the Brazilian border
The following video will give you another look at a natural wonder shared by two other countries we have visited:
http://www.watchknowlearn.org/Video.aspx?VideoID=9958&CategoryID=1694
To the west of the Paraguay River, the hot scrub lands and low plains of the Chaco cover about 60% of Paraguay's total land area.
Chaco plains cleared for
cattle grazing
A view of the Pantanal in Paraguay
Climate of Paraguay
The local climate ranges from subtropical to temperate, with substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, though becoming semi-arid in the far west.
History: Pre-ColumbianPre-Columbian society in the wooded, fertile region which is now present-day Paraguay consisted of seminomadic tribes, who were recognized for their fierce warrior traditions. These indigenous tribes were members of five distinct language families, and 17 separate groups still remain today.
Colonial Period
Europeans first arrived in the area in the early sixteenth century, and the settlement of Asunción was founded on August 15, 1537, by the Spanish explorer Juan de Salazar de Espinosa.
The city eventually became the center of a Spanish colonial province, as well as a primary site of the Jesuit missions and settlements in South America in the eighteenth century. Jesuit Reductions were founded and flourished in eastern Paraguay for about 150 years until the expulsion of the Jesuits by the Spanish crown in 1767.
Paraguay overthrew the local Spanish administration on May 15, 1811. They became independent from Spain, but the relation with Buenos Aires was limited to a non-aggression pact; Paraguayan independence from Argentina was declared in 1842.
Wars Fought after Independence
Paraguay fought the War of the Triple Alliance against Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, and was defeated in 1870 after five years of the bloodiest war in South America. According to W. D. Rubinstein,
“The normal estimate is that of Paraguayan population, of somewhere between 450,000 to 900,00, only 221,000 survived the war, of whom only 28,000 were adult males.“ Paraguay also suffered extensive territorial losses to Brazil and Argentina.
20th century
The Chaco War was fought with Bolivia in the 1930s, and Bolivia was defeated. Paraguay re-established sovereignty over the region called the Chaco, but forfeited additional territorial gains as a price of peace.
A Century of Unstable Government
Between 1904 and 1954, Paraguay had thirty-one presidents, most of whom were removed from office by force.
From 1954 to 1989, the country was ruled by Alfredo Stroessner and the Colorado party. The dictator oversaw an era of economic expansion, but at the cost of a poor human rights and environmental record (see "Political History").
Torture and death for political opponents was routine. After his overthrow, the Colorado continued to dominate national politics until 2008.
Government Today
Paraguay is a representative democratic republic, with a multi-party system and separation of powers in three branches. Executive power is exercised solely by the President, who is both head of state and head of government;
Economy of Paraguay
Agriculture dominates the economy, but unequal land distribution has resulted in a large class of peasant farm laborers
Cattle on cleared land in the Chaco
Main Exports:Soybeans, feed, cotton,
meat, edible oils, electricity, wood,
leather
In recent years, the economy has grown as a result of increased agricultural exports, especially soybeans.
More about the soybean: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soybeans
Paraguay has the economic advantages of a young population and vast hydroelectric power but has few very bad mineral resources, and political instability has undercut some of the economic advantages present.
Paraguay relies almost solely on hydroelectric power to meet its energy needs
Hydroelectric the Itaipú
The People and Their Culture
Paraguay population density (people per km2)
More recent data (2009) show that 35% of the Paraguayan population is poor, 19% of which live in extreme poverty. Moreover, 71% of the later live in rural areas of the country.
Paraguayans' cultural ancestry can be traced to the extensive intermarriage between the original male Spanish settlers and female indigenous Guaraní brides.
Paraguayan culture therefore is a fusion of two things cultures and traditions: one European, the other Southern Guaraní. More than 93% of Paraguayans are mestizos, and this makes Paraguay one of the most homogeneous countries in Latin America.
A characteristic of this cultural fusion is the extensive bilingualism present to this day: more than 80% of Paraguayans speak both Spanish and the indigenous language, Guaraní. Jopara, the mixture of Guaraní and Spanish, is also widely spoken.
This cultural fusion is expressed in arts such as embroidery (ao po'í) and lace making (ñandutí). The music of Paraguay, which consists of lilting polkas, bouncy galopas, and languid guaranías is played on the native harp.
Several popular dishes contain manioc, a local staple crop similar to the yuca root found in the Southwestern United States and Mexico, as well as other indigenous ingredients. A popular dish is sopa paraguaya, similar to a thick corn bread.
Another notable food is chipa, a bagel-like bread made from cornmeal, manioc, and cheese. Many other dishes consist of different kinds of cheeses, onions, bell peppers, cottage cheese, cornmeal, milk, seasonings, butter, eggs and fresh corn kernels.
Social life revolves largely around an extended family of parents, children and blood relations as well as godparents. The Paraguayans' chief loyalty is to their family, and it, in turn, is their haven and support.
Family interests determine to a large extent which political party they will join, to whom they will marry, what sort of job they will get.
A Quick Glimpse at Nature in Paraguay!
The animal diversity plays a major role in the equilibrium of ecosystems, there are 13000 species of vertebrates and fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds , mammals , invertebrates, shellfish and shellfish or insects.
The species of wildlife threatened with extinction are: Jaguar, yaguareté, tapirs, mboreví, bird bell, red parrot, harpy eagle or Taguato, anteater or jurumí, giant armadillo or tatú cart, lies and others.
It’s time to leave Paraguay, we’re off to see another
fantastic country in South America!
Can you guess which one?Hints: It shares that huge and
famous lake that we visited. There are many Incan ruins to visit there!
Good-bye for now!
Resources
http://www.wikipedia.orghttp://www.worldatlas.comhttp://www.watchknowlearn.com