The Cultural Geography of
Latin America
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1
Population Patterns
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Human Characteristics
Blending of People
Indigenous People – the area’s
native people
European settlers
Mostly Spanish & Portuguese
Also Italians, British, French, &
Germans
Asian settlers on many of the
islands
Language
Most countries have Spanish as
their primary language
Brazil – Portuguese
Some English & some French
countries
Dialects – different versions of
the same language
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Where Latin Americans Live
South America’s
Populated Rim
Densely populated area
around the continents
edges (coasts)
Why do you think that
people live here instead of
the continent’s interior?
Population Density
Varies greatly throughout
Latin America!
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Migration
Migrating North
Many people try to
enter the U.S.
looking for a better
life
California, Texas,
New York, Illinois, &
Florida have the
highest populations
of immigrants
Internal Migration
Rapid urbanization
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Growth of Cities
Urban Setting
Megacities – cities with more than 1 million
people
Primate City – influences other cities
Mexico City – 18 Million
– List 5 reasons people would move to a city
– List at least 5 problems this overcrowding
can cause
4 of the 20 largest population cities in the
world are located in this region!
#2 – Mexico City, Mexico
#4 – Sao Paulo, Brazil
#10 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
#19 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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History & Government
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Native American Empires
3 Native Groups
Maya
A.D. 250 - 900
S. Mexico & N.
Central America
Tikal (Guatemala)
was their greatest
city
Skilled in math
– Developed a
symbol for zero
– Created a
calendar based
on 365 days!
Conquered by the
Spanish
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Native American Empires (Cont.)
Aztec
A.D. 1300
Tenochtitlan –
capital city – now
Mexico City
Grew beans & rice
on chinampas –
floating islands
Developed a class
system
Spanish defeated
them
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Native American Empires (Cont.)
Inca
A.D. 1300
Cuzco – capital city –
Peru
Cut terraces in the
Andes mountains to
grow crops
Built irrigation systems
to bring water to desert
areas
No written language –
kept records on quipu
Built Machu Picchu in
Peru
Conquered by Spanish
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Empires to Nations
European Conquests
Conquistadors – Spanish
conquerors
Conquered many of the
native people in the 1500s
Viceroys – Royal appointed
officials
Gaining Independence
In the late 1700s, resentment
grew against the Europeans
The first country to earn
independence was Haiti
Many of he islands of the
Caribbean did not gain their
independence for much longer
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& some still haven’t today! 11
Era of Dictatorship
Caudillo – dictator
Made all of the decisions
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Movements for Change
Panama & the U.S. signed
a treaty creating the
Panama Canal Zone
Slavery still existed in many
countries
Communism in Cuba – still
today!
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Cultures & Lifestyles
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Religion
Roman Catholicism
During the colonial era (when Latin America
was being colonized by European countries),
many of the Latin Americans became
Christians
Most Christians are Roman Catholic
Protestantism
Mixing of Religions
Syncretism – mixture of religions
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The Arts of Latin America
Traditional Arts
Weaving, woodcrafting, pottery, &
metalwork
Murals & Mosaics
Modern Arts
Artists, architects, dancers, musicians
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Everyday Life
Family
Extended family – includes grandparents, aunts & uncles,
cousins
Latin Americans have a strong sense of loyalty to this
Education & Health Care
Education quality varies greatly!
Malnutrition – lack of proper food
Sports & Leisure
Sports
Futbol – Soccer
Jai Alai – Fast-paced game like handball
Fiestas – festivals
Best known is Carnival
Marti Gras – Rio de Janeiro
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