Latin America Flashcards

1
Q

isthmus

A

narrow stretch of land connecting two larger land areas

major: isthmus of Panama

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2
Q

basin

A

area of land drained by a given river & its branches

area of land surrounded by lands of higher elevations

bowl-shaped, formed by erosion(inland sea)

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3
Q

gaucho

A

Spanish

cowhands employed by ranchers on large estates to drive heads of cattle across pampas

Argentine Pampas Plains

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4
Q

tierra templada

A

Spanish term for “temperate land”

the middle altitude zone of Latin American highlands climates

broad-leafed evergreen trees @ lower levels & needle-leafed, conebearing evergreens @ upper

crops: coffee, corn, citrus fruit

most densely populated of zones

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5
Q

estuary

A

an area where the tide meets a river current

where fresh water meets saltwater

inlet by Uruguay fed by Rio de la Plata

in DE, saltwater goes up to Churchmann’s Marsh near I-95, fed by Christina River

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6
Q

cordillera

A

parallel chains or ranges of mountains

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7
Q

canopy

A

top layer of rain forest, where the tops of tall trees form a continuous layer of leaves

blocks rain which prevents ground vegetation from being very lush; blocks sunlight which traps heat; rain caught + heat = rapid evap

130ft

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8
Q

hydroelectric power

A

electrical energy produced by falling water

declining rate of terrain = factor in how forceful the water is

Amazon R = in basin, so water = extra powerful; however, hard to build dam cuz water needs to be rerouted, dam built, & water led back; dam has to survive the force of the returning water

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9
Q

altiplano

A

Spanish for “high plain”

a region in Peru & Bolivia encircled by the Andes peaks

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10
Q

tierra fria

A

Spanish term for “cold land”

the highest altitude zone of Latin American highlands climates

frosts common during winter months

crops: potatoes, wheat, apples, barley

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11
Q

escarpment

A

steep cliff or slope between a higher & lower land surface

eastern coastline of SA filled with bluffs, cliffs, etc.; over time, begin to slope towards coastline -> escarpment

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12
Q

indigenous

A

native to a certain area

Native Americans (first to settle LA); Maya, Aztec, & Inca

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13
Q

dialect

A

local form of a language used in a particular place or by a certain group

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14
Q

patois

A

dialects that blend elements of indigenous, European, African, and Asian languages

Haiti - “Creole”; French, Swahili, some Spanish & English

Am. version of Creole = Cajan

blend of language

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15
Q

megacity

A

city with more than 10 million ppl

Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires (“megalopolis”)

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16
Q

primate city

A

a city that dominates a country’s economy, culture, and gov’t & in which population is concentrated

usually the capital

if it has an international airport, prob primate

Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires

many began near waterways during colonial era

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17
Q

glyph

pictogram

A

picture writing carved in stone

transfer message

tell story

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18
Q

chinampas

A

floating farming islands made by the Aztec

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19
Q

quipu

A

knotted cords of various lengths & colors used by the Inca to keep financial records

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20
Q

conquistador

A

Spanish term for “conqueror”, referring to soldiers who conquered Native Americans in Latin America

1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue & others soon followed

brought disease & AA’s as slaves

used guns, germs, & steel to conquer natives; germs most deadly - smallpox wiped out millions

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21
Q

viceroy

A

representative of the Spanish monarch appointed to enforce laws in colonial Latin America (viceroyalties)

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22
Q

caudillo

A

a Latin American poltiical leader from the late 1800s on

often a military dictator backed by military forces & wealthy landowners

after Spanish & Portuguese lost control; after freedom

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23
Q

syncretism

A

a blending of beliefs & practices from different religions into 1 faith

the further from big cities, the biger the blend b/w monotheistic & native beliefs

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24
Q

mural

A

outdoor wall painting

graffiti = urban mural

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25
mosaic
pic or design made w/ small pieces of colored stone, glass, shell, or tile expresses family traditions
26
malnutrition
faulty or inadequate nutrition
27
futbol
Spanish term for soccer
28
jai alai
traditional handball-type game popular w/ Mexicans & Cubans in ancient times, yearly tournament to strive to become kings' champion; winner/loser = executed
29
campesinos
farm workers generally, ppl who live & work in rural areas usually subsistence farming(Mexico) some go to work on mini/latifundias
30
cash crops
farm crops grown to be sold or traded rather than used by the farm family
31
latifundia
large agricultural estates owned by families or corporations job hard to get - regular pay, hard to lose, rules for protection
32
minifundia
small farms that produce food chiefly for family use but can be commercial
33
maquiladoras
in Mexico, manufacturing plants set up by foreign firms
34
mestizos
Spanish/Native
35
mulattos
Euro/African live mainly in Caribbean cuz killed off by Euro diseases in other places & slave trade
36
caboclos
Portugese/Native speak Portuguese Amazon poor but satisfied houses on stilts subsistence farming & fishing harmony w/ nature families often forced to move cuz of flooding electricity & schooling uncommon , illness common modern often go to city
37
extended family
household made up of several generations of family members
38
NAFTA
North American Free Trade Agreement trade agreement made in 1994 by Canada, the US, & Mexico reduces/eliminates trade restrictions(tariffs) like EU diffuses areas & boosts economies
39
deforestation
the loss or destruction of forests, mainly for logging or farming rate: 20 football fields a minute(during working hours)
40
slash-and-burn farming
traditional farming method in which all trees & plants in an area r cut & burned to add nutrients to the soil doesn't last long quicker & cheaper deforestation technique
41
shantytowns
makeshift communities on the edges of cities
42
quetzal
national bird of Guatemala also name of Guatemalen currency
43
Maya
peaked around late 1st millennium & then mysteriously vanished theory: Aztecs drove them out southern Mexico/Yucatan/isthmus Tikal, in Guatemala used glyphs, good at math
44
Incas
rose to power after Mayans lived along west coast of SA in Andes mtn ranges adapted to warm climate 1 emperor ruled all - southern ppl rebelled & broke off; incas fought, traded diseases (weird immune systems) -\> were weak by the time conquistadors came Cuzco, Peru central gov't headed by emperor used quipu, storytelling, irrigation, roads, massive temples & fortresses
45
Aztecs
rose to power last central Mexico Tenochtitlan, Mexico City chinampas for beans & maize highly structured class system headed by emperor & military officials, high-ranking priests; majority @ bottom corn from maize, tomato, cacao beans
46
Francisco Pizarro
1541 w/ 300 conquistadors 1520-1540 Aztecs driven out & spread disease; already weak Incas cut down even more used guns, steel etc. to trick emperor of Incas to "talk peacefully"; took him hostage requesting palace full of gold; executed him to set the tone --\> Euro kings alarmed by execution of king & arrested Pizarro; 300 conquistadors remained however
47
strip mining
for iron ore looks red cuz Pacific Coast = windward; moves soil, but iron ore moves less easily & cakes cut into hillside to protect against runoff, increases amount of iron ore to strip after stripped, good for farming (water absorption)
48
vaqueros
cowboy Portuguese speaking Paraguayan & Brazilian Pampas Plains Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay
49
llaneros
Spanish cowhands employed by ranchers on large estates to drive heads of cattle across Llanos Plains
50
reef barrier
saltwater extent of an estuary salt creeps up farther 2x a day in tides
51
vertical zonation
like longitudinal zonation (farther from Equator, the colder) the farther up, the colder tierra fria, templa, & caliente tropical highlands
52
tierra caliente
Spanish term for "hot land" the lowest altitude zone of Latin American highlands climates crops: cacao, bananas, sugarcane, rice
53
Latin America
Meso America - Mexico & Central Am Caribbean/West Indies - Greater & Lesser Antilles South America abt 8 million square miles ~ 16% land surface of Earth sits along Pacific Ring of Fire - mtns, volcanoes, earthquakes
54
Sierra Madre
Mexico Oriental(Eastern) & Occidental(Western) meet near Mexico City to form Sierra Madre del Sur(of the South) surrounds Mexican Plateau
55
other highlands
Central Highlands - Central America; many Caribbean islands also part of this Guiana Highlands
56
Andes
western edge of South America world's longest & one of the highest
57
Patagonia
southern Argentina plateau hills & lower flatlands
58
plateaus
Mato Grosso Plateau - plateau of forests & grasslands; over much of Brazil & across to Bolivia & Peru Mexican Plateau - surrounded by Sierra Madres
59
Brazilian Highlands
east of Mato Grosso Plateau spans several climate & vegetation zones on eastern edge, plunges to Atlantic Ocean as escarpment
60
llanos
fertile plains in inland areas of Colombia & Venezuela vast grassland provides grazing lands for beef cattle
61
pampas
grassy, treeless plains of Argentina & Uruguay provides grazing lands for beef cattle fertile soil; one of world's major "breadbaskets" - abundance of wheat & corn many ppl here grow crops on small&medium sized farms used to have scattered trees but Spanish settlers brought cattle & horses & cut down trees for ranches & overgrazing;
62
Rio Grande Rio Bravo del Norte
"Wild River of the North" part of long border b/w Mexico & US
63
Amazon Basin
formed by hundreds of smaller rivers which join the Amazon R. drains parts of Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, & Venezuela covers 1/3 of SA wettest tropical plain touches 6 countries area compares to contiguous 48 US States
64
Parana, Paraguay, Uruguay river system
2nd-largest river system in LA drains eastern half of SA provide inland water routes & hydroelectric power for Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, & Uruguay after going thru inland areas, flow into Rio de la Plata
65
Rio de la Plata
"River of Silver" estuary that meets the Atlantic Ocean
66
Lake Titicaca
world's highest navigable lake in Andes of Bolivia & Peru area surrounding = one of the centers of early Native Am civilization (many architectural remains)
67
Lake Maracaibo
Venezuela regarded as SA's largest lake, even though actually inlet of Caribbean Sea surrounding area contains most important oil fields in Venezuela
68
Lake Nicaragua
largest lake in Central Am b/w Nicaragua & Costa Rica
69
natural resources
Gulf of Mexico & southern Caribbean Sea - major oil & natural gas deposits (make Mexico & Venezuela leading oil producers) Venzuela - foothills along Orinoco R. contain large amounts of gold Brazil - gold Peru & Mexico - silver Colombia - emeralds Chile - copper Jamaica - bauxite Bolivia & Brazil - tin
70
obstacles of natural resources
geographic inaccessibility lack of capital for development deep social & political divisions
71
tropical rain forest climate
hot temp's & abundant rainfall yearround southern Mexico, eastern Central Am, some Caribbean islands, parts of SA in Amazon Basin, results from area's location on Equator & patterns of prevailing winds
72
hieroglyph
glyphs/pictograms in a row
73
fresco
indoor wall painting
74
effects of migration
language - dialect, patois religion - wanting to keep their old religions but also believing in another, LA's often take part in syncretism
75
population distribution in 50 years
urban to rural (to deforested areas) currently @ coasts, might move inland
76
pros & cons of plantation system
pros: profits, standard of living, & jobs up; wealth for community cons: disease,created need for triangular leg/slave passage, social classism, only cash crops, slavery, overfarming,
77
formation of Andes
160 million years ago SA & Africa(Gondwanaland, part of Pangea) separated & SA moved west, 30 miil years ago colliding with Nazca Plate. collision pushed up western edge of SA, which folded t form Andes. subduction. before, Amazon River had been flowing out to Pacific, but when Andes formed, river was blocked by both Andes & Guyana and Brazilian highlands to east -\> gigantic Amazon saltwater lake/inland sea. lakewater eventually transformed to freshwater. global drop in sea levels & temp's abt 10 million years ago caused wetlands of basin to dry up & become rich & rainforests grew. river eventually made its way thru eastern hilands & began to flow into Atlantic Ocean when saltwater -\> freshwater, marine animals living there also adapted into freshwater animals further rising of Andes in last 2 million years shifted rivers & created more diversity of life.
78
what landorms foster largest ranching industries? why?
llanos & pampas both have wide grazing lands for beef cattle to feed on & vast rolling terrain makes it easier for llaneros & gauchos to drive the great herds around
79
obstacle to hydroelectric power
Amazon forest - hard to get materials there(machines, etc.). have to cut forest just to transport. steep decline of land -\> problems rerouting river Amazon R -on average more forceful cuz of basin
80
pros & cons of deforestation industry
pros: wide variety of resources for humans. carving out roads in forests opens up Brazil's interior to settlement & development, provides jobs, life expectancy goes up, hydroelectric power = more accesible, agriculture increased cons: destruction of the indigenous human/animals' ways of life. destruction of trees & other vegetation, loss of possible medicinal cures, global warming
81
population
coastal, Central Mexico, Antilles not only r islands very limited in space, but they r also limited in habitable space (usually tops of underwater mtns, so mountainous) largest: Brazil 171.8 mill ► 201 mill largest city pop in LA: Mexico City largest city pop in SA: Sao Paulo smallest: St. Kitts & Nevis 40k ► 51,134 why increase? cuz of better standard of living w/ deforestation, jobs, etc.
82
economic activity
2 types of activity based on land use: subsistence & commercial
83
subsistence farming
covers largest land area, but not most populous
84
commerical farming
seeking profit business
85
area
largest: Brazil 3,300,154sqmi / 8,547,399sqkm → 8,514,000sqkm smallest: Grenada 339sqkm → 344sqkm why change? conquest, trade of land (Vincent & Grenadines sold 2 islands), sea levels
86
other rivers
Sao Francesco River - flows thru Brazilian Highlands Orinoco River
87
climates
predominant = tropical rain forest & tropical savanna more affected by elevation than distance from Equator also affected by landforms & wind patterns
88
why live in harsh environ?
tradition, ancestral resource industries: mining, oil drilling, etc.
89
How does Guyana have Asians?
underpopulated cuz of civil war, famine, etc. → shortage of workers searched for overpopulated places to inhabit their country why asians leave: Bangaldesh, etc. = overpopulated, political problems, war, famine
90
language
most area: Native American; most widespread but not most populous most populous: Spanish & Portuguese; abt 80%Sp, 10%Port,10%rest French, English dialects & patois
91
labor migration
largest inflow: Brazil, then Argentina & Venezuela (altho V not letting ppl in anymore)
92
external migration
country to country have to have permanent living intentions
93
internal migration
within country rural ⇔ urban but usually r to u rural areas - fertile land in short supply or small portion of population controls access to the land rapid urbanization
94
Machu Pichu
in Inca region not created by Incas have Nazca Lines -\> pre-Inca, mystery gigantic carved ditches only able to be seen from air
95
viceroyalties
New Spain - now Mexico, Central Am, & western US New Granada - now Venezuela, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador Peru - now Peru, Chile Brazil - now Portugal, Bolivia, Uruguay Santa Domingo La Plata - named for a physical feature Guiana - ruled by France & Netherlands
96
Francois Toussaint-Louverture
led enslaved Haitians against French Haiti almost 100% AA (slave colony) started & inspired movement of liberty & revolution
97
Simon Bolivar
"the Liberator" Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
98
Jose de San Martin
led LA forces across Andes to win indendence for Chile & Peru (from Argentina)
99
Father Miguel Hidalgo
called on Mexicans to fight for "Independence & Liberty" from Spain didn't actually fight but got the ball rolling
100
important modern LA issues
Venezuela has shifted toward dictatorial communist rule since election of Prez Hugo Chavez Cuba became communist dictatorship in 1960 under Prez Fidel Castro deforestation effects (Brazil); GDP & standard of living rise tho war on drugs funded by mainly US but carried out by countries like Panama, Mexico, etc. unemployment Roman Catholic Church
101
religion
Roman Catholicism - 89%(prob rose cuz gave birth more due to better standards of living or staying alive longer) Protestantism - various forms came w/ British & Dutch settlers in 1800s. in time built hospitals, schools, colleges. grew in late 1900s rapidly cuz emphasized personal experience traditional Native Am & African relgiions, often mixed w/ Christianity & other faiths Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism (Asian) practiced in West Indies & coastal areas of SA Judaism
102
sports
jai alai, soccer, basketball(Brazil), baseball(Dom. Rep.), vball
103
Panama Canal
inland waterway connecting Atlantic & Pacific 1903 panama signs treaty to create Panama Canal Zone 1904 construction begins. instead of cut, built system of locks obstacles: volcanic soil, heat & rain(humidity), dense vegetation, disease-spreading insects(malaria), terrain 1914 completed. 1st ship passed thru 1999 transferred control to Panama
104
US Steps to Superpower Status
Industrial Rev. boosted way up victory over Spain (Cuba freed); made Roosevelt famous Panama Canal (Roosevelt motto); told Europe to stay away 16th Amendment - Income Tax. Industrial Rev. gave ppl more $ gov't could use WWI victory Great Depression WWII victory Federal Reserve (cuz of depression) - bank for our nation's banks; loosely affiliated nukes
105
Amazon animals
loss of 1 species injures whole ecosystem almost 1/2 of species found nowhere else 900+ bird species 2,000+ fish
106
Amazon River
source = Andes Mtns, Peru every year, rains cause flooding; 1-6 miles to 30 miles+ 2nd longest in world longest in Western Hemisphere Andes -\> Atlantic Ocean
107
flooded forests
during wet season, waters can be 5-50 ft deep waterways become natural highways breadth = 60 miles width up to 30 miles on each side may rain during wet season up to 5 straight months average rainfall = 100in
108
rapid evaporation
normal process when rain falls on ground is accelerated 4-5 times a day, rain showers; windows used by caboclos for repairs, etc. humid, wet envrion canopy catches rain, high alt = rapid evap
109
Spaniards
brought pigs (breed fast, swim well)
110
water monkey
fish spawns during high water, males keep eggs in mouth until babies ready; babies then feed on algae, crustaceans of insects, etc & egg sac; father doesn't feed 3-4 weeks(lives off fat in body); when danger, babies go back to dad's mouth feeds primarily on insects which usually fall in water - hunts by skimming surface; special eye structure allows to see above & below water however, if bug doesn't fall, the fish jumps out and catches it
111
hoatzin ("watson")
chicks born at onset of flood, feed on partialy digested leaves regurgitated from parents when abt 2 weeks old, explore under attentive eye of 2 or 3 adults chicks = 2 claws on wings for better grasp on branches if necessary; can also dive in water & swim away (so nest built over water) ungainly in air found only in flooded forests & mangrove swamps primarily leaf eaters
112
flooded forest resource use
hydroelectric dams gold mines - mercury used to process the gold has spread into fish, therefore humans
113
rain forest
selva(Brazil) trees - tropical hardwoods, palms, tree ferns, bamboos
114
tropical savanna climate
coast of southwestern Mexico, most Caribbean islands, north-central SA hot temps & abundant rainfall extended dry season vast grasslands; some, like llanos, considered transition zones b/w grasslands & forests
115
humid subtropical region
much of southeaster SA winters short & mild, summers long, hot, & humid but sometimes short dry periods
116
desert and steppe areas
parts of northern Mexcio, coastal Peru & Chile, & southeastern coast of Argentina desert - vegetaton sparse except for cacti & some shrubs steppe - northern Mexcio, northeastern Brazil, south central SA; light rainfall, hot summers, cool winters, grassy/lightly forested vegetation
117
Atacama Desert
produced by rain shadow effect from Andes so arid that in some places no rainfall ever recorded driest desert in LA
118
people
African, Native American, S Asain/SE Asain, Euopean, mixed
119
immigrant nations
Argentina & Uruguay so many Europeans settled there in modern times
120
Europeans
late 1400s
121
Africans
1500s arrived as slaves late 1800s slavery ended
122
Asians
1800s temporary workers but many remained Caribbean islands, Guyana(abt 1/2)
123
outflow migration
desire for improved living conditions, political freedom, escape from political unrest can cause to move north to US primarily from Mexcio, Central America, & Caribbean
124
traditional arts
weaving, woodcarving, pottery, metalwork Native Am's built temples decorated w/ murals & mosaics during colonial times largely inspired by European works & had Christian themes Africans - rhythms, songs, & dances -\> today's calypso, reggae, samba
125
modern arts
1900s mixed Euro, Nat, & Afr many focused on social & political subj's
126
machismo
Spanish & Portuguese tradition of male supremacy
127
Carnival
week before Roman Catholic Lent (40-day fasting & prayer before Easter)
128
history & gov't
1800s most countries independent 20th century, most developed democratic rule
129
vegetation
predominant: tropical forest & tropical grassland
130
major sea
Caribbean
131
major strait
Strait of Magellan
132
major peninsula
Yucatan Peninsula
133
diff b/w tropical rain forest & savanna
savanna has dry season
134
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
1513 explored isthmus of Panama, wanted to build waterway but didn't
135
Ferdinand de Lesseps
late 1800s French Suez Canal. tried to cut through mountainous terrain of Panama isthmus but failed miserably
136
Philippe Jean Bunau-Varilla
1901 got help from Roosevelt who was willing to help if Colombia relinquished control. Colombia refused, so Bunau-Varilla supported Panamanian revolutionaries & persuaded US to intervene. sent gunboats. Bunau-Varilla = Panama's minister to US, gave US control of land.
137
mountains
tallest in South & North Am: Mt. Aconagua(22,834ft) & Mt. McKinley(20,320ft)
138
"Christ the Redeemer" statue
in Rio de Janeiro
139
landlocked SA countries
Paraguay & Bolivia
140
Hispaniola
Haiti Dominican Republic
141
Bolivia's 2 capitals
La Paz & Sucre