LATIN AMERICA
From the Rio Grande to the Amazon
Physical
Features
•Dominated by
mountains along the
west coast
•Amazon River –
world’s second
longest river
•Lake Titicaca –
highest lake in the
world that can be
used for boat travel
•Atacama Desert –
one of the driest
places on earth
•Angel Falls – world’s
highest waterfalls
Andes Mountains in Peru
Atacama Desert
Climate
Zones
Population
Density
•Largest Cities:
• Mexico City,
Mexico
• Buenos Aires,
Argentina
• Sao Paulo,
Brazil
• Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
Economic
Activity
Countries of Latin America
•33 countries
•Brazil: largest
in area and
population
•Major Languages:
Spanish and
Portuguese
•Called Latin
America because
their languages
are based on
Latin – language
spoken by the
Roman Empire
E
Culture
• Latin America is a
multicultural society –
influenced by European,
African, and Indian
cultures.
• It is estimated that
between 25 and 100 million
natives inhabited Latin
America before the
explorers arrived.
• The Aztecs in central
Mexico, the Incas in
western South America,
and the Mayas in southern
Mexico and Central
America developed
advanced civilizations and
great empires.
Culture
•Europeans came during the
early 1500’s and used
superior weapons to
conquer the natives, forcing
them to work in mines as
slaves.
•European disease also
decimated much of the
native population.
•Europeans did bring their
language and religion which
has had a lasting effect on
Latin America’s culture.
Culture
•The Spanish and
Portuguese brought
Africans to Latin America
when there were no longer
enough natives to work in
the mines and on
plantations.
•Over five million slaves
were shipped from West
Africa to the coastal areas
of Brazil, Venezuela,
Colombia, and the
Caribbean Islands.
•Their influences is seen
today in the music, dance,
food, language, and religion
of the region.
Religion
•90 % claim to be
Roman Catholic
•Latin America is
home to nearly half
of the world’s Roman
Catholics.
•Some Latin
Americans still follow
traditional tribal
beliefs known as
indigenous religions.
•Other religious
influences have been
brought to the region
by immigrants from
Africa and Asia.
Machismo & Marianismo
•Machismo – expected of
men and displayed
through proving virility,
showing respect,
behaving honorably,
acting with dignity, and
being generous
•Marianismo – expected
of women, many believe
that means being
subservient (this is usually
seen in public), but it is
also seen in the honor and
respect shown to
mothers, sometimes =
dominant role in the
home
Work and Leisure
•Many Latin Americans
believe that work is
something that must be
done in order to have
leisure.
•Leisure is valued as a time
to appreciate family,
friends, and the finer things
in life.
•This attitude also
translates into the Latin
American concept of time –
no need to be pressured by
the clock!
Political Culture
•The struggle for power
between the small groups of
wealthy elite and large
majority of lower classes has
created a state of turmoil and
confusion for much of Latin
America’s history.
•While there have been
moments of democratic
government, much of Latin
America has leaned toward
authoritarianism.
•However, in the 1980’s
democracy swept the region
and by the early 1990’s every
state except for Cuba was run
by a democratically-elected
government.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Slums in Latin America