Latin America Cultural

CharacteristicsWorld Geography

WG.4

Indian Civilizations

Long before Europeans came to Latin America highly developed civilizations lived in the region.

Millions of people were controlled under three

main empires:

• Aztec

• Inca

• Maya

MAYA

• Lived on the Yucatan peninsula• Mostly farmers• Developed a calendar using mathematics

and astronomy• Spanish paid little attention to them

because their land had little gold & silver

TIKAL• Major Mayan settlement

• Located in present day Guatemala

• The ruins of Tikal include more than 3,000 structures including palaces, temples, ceremonial platforms, ball courts, terraces, plazas, avenues and steam baths

TOUR TIKAL

AZTEC• Lived in the central valley of Mexico• Aztec capital was Tenochtitlan which is

modern day Mexico City• Had a vast empire that was a military

dictatorship which helped the conquistadors (conquers from Spain) take over

INCA• Empire extended from Columbia

to Chile in the Andes Mountains

• Extensive highway system

• Used irrigation, guano, canals, reservoirs & llamas to produce

enough food • Harvest was divided into thirds:

– 1/3 to priest– 1/3 to ruler– 1/3 to community

Machu Picchu• When discovered in

1911 it was totally covered by vegetation

• Used to study astrology

• May have been a sacred place for religious ceremonies

TOUR

MACHU PICCHU

European

Colonization

~ Spanish conquistadors arrived in Latin America around 1519.

~ They were in search of Gold, God & Glory

~ Agriculture was also important . They turned the Indians’ ejidos (communal lands) into large haciendas owned by only the wealthy.

Why were the Europeans able to conquer the Indian empires?

1st:

Europeans had guns and horses

2nd:

Formed military alliances

3rd:

Europeans brought diseases such as smallpox

ROMAN CATHOLICISM

• Roman Catholic missionaries tried to convert the Indians over to Christianity.

• They established missions in both the city centers and rural areas.• Today Catholicism remains the primary religion in Latin

America

MESTIZOS - people of mixed European & Indian ancestry

• Spanish and Indian cultures “mixed” in Latin America

• Many of the European colonists were men and they got lonely so they “met” Indian women.

Out-Migration

* Many Mexicans want to emigrate out of their country.

* WHY? Push factors include poverty, pollution & crime

* Better jobs are available in the US so Mexicans can send money back to their families

Population Growth

The populations of many Latin American countries are growing rapidly.

By looking at the population pyramid would you say Venezuela is developed or developing?_______

Rigid Social

Structure

• It is very difficult to rise up the social ladder

• It is similar to India

• If you are born poor you will probably be poor the rest of your life

• The rich and poor do not mix socially

Most cities are located along the

coast.

In the large megacities, squatter

settlements are common.

Many people live very closely

together in homes made of whatever

they can find.

Types of Music

Music from this region has many African influences

•calypso (Trinidad)•steel drum bands

(Trinidad)• Listen to Caribbean Music Sample, "S Dwet"

• reggae (Jamaica) LISTEN

Many dances also come from Latin America

• Salsa (Cuba & Puerto Rico)

• Merengue (Dominican Republic)