Geography of the Caribbean and Central America

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Questions and Answers

The Spanish conquered the Mayan empire and established Mexico City in its place.

False (B)

Guyana shares many cultural traits with the Caribbean due to the influence of initial migrants from that region.

True (A)

Colombia and Venezuela have a common history of English colonization, influencing their languages and religions.

False (B)

Venezuela's modern history includes periods of rule by military and democratically elected leaders.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Atacama Desert is a densely populated region due to its fertile lands and moderate climate.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Mexico, after gaining independence from Spain, lost half of its territory due to wars with Texas and the United States.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

French Guiana is culturally influenced by France, with most people speaking French and practicing Catholicism.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Caribbean has a population of approximately 36 million people.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Cauto River in the Caribbean is located on Hispaniola.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Central America connects North America to South America through a narrow strip of land known as an isthmus.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The predominant language of South America is English.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Angel Falls is located in the Amazon Rain Forest.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Spanish is the dominant language in the Caribbean region.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Central America is home to the second largest coral reef in the world.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The ancestry of Caribbean inhabitants is uniform across all islands.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Isthmus

A narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses, surrounded by sea.

Lake Nicaragua

The largest lake in Central America, located in Nicaragua.

Migration

The movement of people from one place to another.

Spanish

The dominant language spoken in the Caribbean region.

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Amazon Rainforest

The world's largest rain forest, located in South America.

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Angel Falls

The highest waterfall in the world, located in South America.

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Andes Mountains

The world's longest mountain range, located in South America.

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Spanish

The dominant language spoken in Central America, except for Belize.

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Forced Migration

The forced movement of a people group out of an area.

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Conquest of Tenochtitlan

The Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes invaded Tenochtitlan and conquered the Aztec empire, eventually destroying their capital city.

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Spanish legacy in Mexico

The Spanish colonial presence in Mexico led to the widespread adoption of the Spanish language and Roman Catholicism.

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Spanish Influence in Colombia and Venezuela

The area of modern-day Colombia and Venezuela both have coastlines on the Caribbean Sea and share a history of Spanish colonization.

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Caribbean influence on Guyana

The first migrants to Guyana came from the Caribbean, bringing their cultures with them, despite previous Dutch and British rule.

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French influence in French Guiana

French Guiana, due to French rule, has a population that primarily speaks French and practices Catholicism.

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Challenges facing Guyana

Despite having a fledgling democracy, Guyana still struggles with low socioeconomic conditions, which points to a need for continued development and improvement.

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Study Notes

Caribbean Region

  • Composed of ~7,000 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico
  • Primarily volcanic origin, with active volcanoes present
  • Lake Enriquillo (Hispaniola) is the largest lake
  • Cauto River (Cuba) is the largest river
  • Estimated population: ~36 million
  • Predominant language: Spanish
  • Predominant religion: Catholicism
  • Diverse ancestry: African/Caribbean, European/Caribbean, indigenous (Arawak, Caribs, Tainos)

Central America

  • Isthmus connecting North and South America
  • Narrow strip of land surrounded by sea
  • Mountainous regions
  • Lake Nicaragua is the largest lake
  • Rio Coco is the longest river
  • Extensive rainforests and the second largest coral reef
  • Estimated population: ~43 million
  • Predominant language: Spanish (English in Belize)
  • Predominant religion: Catholicism

South America

  • Includes the Amazon Rainforest (largest in the world) and the Amazon River (largest by volume)
  • Angel Falls (highest in the world)
  • Andes Mountains (longest mountain range)
  • Estimated population: ~380 million
  • Predominant language: Spanish (Portuguese in ~50%)
  • Predominant religion: Catholicism

Migration in the Caribbean, Central America, and South America

  • Migration patterns significantly influenced by natural resources and climate
  • European migration (late 1400s) driven by the desire for gold, silver, and farmable land
  • European migration had a devastating impact on indigenous populations (killed, enslaved, forced migration)
  • Population concentration in Caribbean and Central America often along cooler coastlines
  • South American population concentration in moderate climates (Amazon mouth to Argentina)

Mexico

  • Early civilizations: Mayan and Aztec
  • Spanish conquest led by Hernan Cortes, conquering the Aztec empire
  • Tenochtitlan (Aztec capital) replaced by Mexico City
  • 300 years of Spanish colonization, shaping language and religion
  • Post-independence conflicts with Texas and the United States
  • Divided into 32 states
  • Political parties: PRI and PAN

Caribbean South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, French Guiana)

  • Colombia and Venezuela: Caribbean coastlines, Spanish colonization, majority speak Spanish, practice Catholicism
  • Colombia: Turbulent political history, currently a democracy
  • Venezuela: Political history marked by military rulers and elected leaders, current political crisis
  • Guyana and French Guiana: Cultural traits with the Caribbean, influenced by Caribbean migrants. Guyana's history includes Dutch and English rule before independence. French Guiana's history includes French rule.

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