South America Today

South America TodayCh. 8

Pg. 216-235

Mestizo—of mixed European and native ancestry

Roots—cultural origins

Arrival of Europeans changed life for indigenous people

Many native people were killed by unfamiliar diseases and warfare

Europeans introduced new population groups

1.1 Indigenous Cultures pg. 216-217

Aymara, Quechua, and Guarani are three largest indigenous groups in South America today

Aymara live in Andes of Peru and Bolivia; herd llamas & alpacas; grow crops such as potatoes and quinoa

Quechua live in the Andes of Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia; farmers; blend Catholic and native beliefs; weavers

Guarani live in Paraguay; culture represented in Paraguay’s folk art

Munduruku live in Brazil; ancestors farmed, hunted, & fished in rain forest; sell forest products

1.1 Indigenous Cultures pg. 216-217

Language families—groups of related languages

Predominant—main (languages)

Topography—physical features

Languages that South Americans speak come from at least 50 language families

Main languages in South America are Spanish and Portuguese

Creole is a language that results when two other languages are combined together

1.2 Language Diversity pg. 218-219

More than 500 languages are spoken today due to large number of indigenous groups

Mountain ranges and rain forests isolated indigenous groups and kept their languages separate

Some indigenous languages such as Quechua and Guarani are common

Some indigenous languages are endangered

1.2 Language Diversity pg. 218-219

Immigrated—moved permanently

Cuisine—food that is characteristic of a particular place

Roman Catholicism became main religion in South America during colonial period

Roughly 80% of South Americans are Roman Catholic; Brazil has the world’s largest Catholic population

1.3 Daily Life pg. 220-221

Most Protestants in the region live in Chile and the Guianas and in parts of Brazil, Bolivia, and Ecuador

Candomble combines African spiritual practices with Catholicism

Every country in South America provides public education

Some children may not attend school regularly or may leave early to help earn money for their families


Playing futbol (soccer) or watching a favorite team compete is a popular pastime in South America

South American cuisine varies in different parts of the continent

In coastal countries like Chile, seafood is often a main ingredient

In Uruguay and Argentina, beef is often served

In the mountains of Peru, llamas provide a good source of meat

Stews with black beans, rice, and vegetables are common throughout South America


Prosperous—economically strong

Coup—takeover (of the government)

Ruthless--cruel

In the early 1800s, movements for independence in countries across South America brought an end to colonial rule

South American governments have gone through many changes since independence

2.1 Comparing Governments pg. 222-223

Argentina Dictators held power

for several decades after independence in 1816

Adopted new constitution in 1850; entered prosperous period until 1920s

Military coups in 1930s and 1943

Juan Peron elected president in 1946 but reforms were expensive and corruption weakened administration

1950s Peron overthrown by military leaders

Since 1980s, democratically elected presidents have faced serious economic crises

Today constitutional government is stable and economy is one of strongest in South America


Peru Gained independence

in 1821 Government has

shifted between democratically elected presidents and military rule

Many leaders favored wealthy landowners over ordinary citizens

Political instability made economic and social progress difficult

In 2001, first Quechua president, Alejandro Toledo was elected

Toledo’s election demonstrated that Peru’s government could represent all citizens


Chile Declared independence

in 1818; has mostly been a representative democracy

Augusto Pinochet acted as a dictator from 1973 to 1990; he was ruthless and no one was allowed to disagree with his policies

Chile returned to democratic rule in 1990

In 2006, first female president, Michelle Bachelet Jeria was elected; father was killed by Pinochet and she and mother were imprisoned and exiled for opposing Pinochet

Bachelet helped ease poverty, expaned social reforms, and created new employment opportunities


Soybeans—a type of bean grown for food and also for industrial products such as plastics, inks, and adhesives

Fertilizer—a substance added to soil to enrich it

The wide grassy Pampas is South America’s major crop-growing region

Pampas is also the grazing ground for cattle, another valuable export

2.2 The Pampas Economy pg. 224-225

The Pampas is a large plain that stretches across central Argentina from the Atlantic Ocean to the foothills of the Andes Mountains

Covers nearly ¼ of Argentina’s land area

Spanish and mestizo cowboys (gauchos) herded cattle and sheep on Pampas; modern gauchos continue practice

Cattle grazing takes place in Dry Pampas, dry zone in the west

Agriculture takes place in the Wet Pampas, the humid zone in the east


In the 1980s, soybeans became a valuable crop in Argentina

Soybeans do not need as much fertilizer

Low productions costs and high prices in global markets make soybeans a valuable crop in Argentina

Argentines are among the world’s top consumers of beef

Soybeans are used to make vegetable oil and livestock feed

Soybeans, wheat, corn, flax, and alfalfa are some of the crops grown in the Wet Pampas


Temperate—mild (climate)

Mediterranean climate—the temperate climate along the coasts of southern Europe and northern Africa on the Mediterranean Sea

Diversify—vary

Chile is a long, narrow country bordering the Pacific ocean

Central Chile enjoys a temperate climate that supports an extensive agriculture industry

2.3 Chile’s Food Production pg. 226-227

A Mediterranean climate is defined by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters

Found in southern Australia, southern and central California in the United States, and southern South Africa, and central Chile

Mediterranean climates have similar latitudes; generally 30⁰ S-40⁰ S or 30⁰ N-40⁰ N; lie on western coasts and have similar precipitation patterns because of their coastal positions


Fruits such as grapes, peaches, and apples are grown for export in Chile’s fertile valleys

A thriving wine industry depends on the many varieties of grapes that grow in Chile’s vineyards

Chile has become a major exporter of olives and specialty olive oils

Copper remains Chile’s most valuable export

Growth of agricultural exports since the 1980s helped Chile diversify its economy


Erratic—inconsistent

Export revenue—money earned from exports

Profitable—financially successful

Agriculture and mining are key industries in Peru

Erratic rainfall and rugged terrain make large-scale farming in the mountains difficult

Potatoes, wheat, corn, vegetables, and quinoa grow well for local people and are not exported

2.4 Products of Peru pg. 228-229

Limited cash crops for export include sugarcane, wheat, coffee, and asparagus

Economic activities in the Peruvian mountains include cattle and alpaca ranching

Peru’s most profitable economic activity is mining

Peru is a leading exporter of silver, zinc, lead, copper, tin, and gold

Exports of metals and minerals supply nearly 2/3 of Peru’s total export revenue

In the 1990s, policy changes allowed private ownership of the mines


Private ownership allowed for improvements and upgrades

Existing mines became more profitable and new mines opened

Mining revenues also increased due to an upward trend in world prices for silver, gold, and other metals and minerals since the late 1990s


Foremost—leading Steel– a strong

metal made from iron and other metals

Ethanol—a liquid removed from sugarcane or corn

Biofuel—an alternative fuel made from ethanol and gasoline

Brazil is the largest and most populous country in South America

Agriculture, ranching, and fishing all contribute to the country’s economy

Brazil exports bananas, oranges, mangoes, cacao beans, soybeans, rice, cashew nuts, and pineapples

3.1 Brazil’s Growing Economy pg. 230-231

Brazil grows 1/3 of the world’s total number of coffee beans and is one of the leading exporters of sugarcane and raw sugar

Forests in Brazil provide wood for construction, to make pulp for paper products, and hardwood to make fine furniture

Cattle exports include leather and beef; Brazil exports more beef than the United States, Australia, and Argentina

Brazil will use new technology to develop its commercial fishing industry along 4,000 miles of Atlantic coastline


Brazil is a top producer and exporter of iron ore, bauxite (aluminum ore), gold, copper, and diamonds

Oil wells dot Brazil’s coast

Brazil manufactures steel used in automobiles, transportation equipment, and aircraft

Brazil also manufactures computers and electronic equipment

Brazil has produced and exported sugarcane and sugar since the 1500s

Brazil is poised to be a global leader in the production of biofuel made from ethanol


Megacities—cities with more than 10 million people

Slums—overcrowded and poverty-stricken urban areas

Sao Paulo grew from a quiet mission town to a world megacity

Portuguese missionary priests founded Sao Paulo in 1554 and built a mission and a school

In the late 1600s, gold was discovered in the mountains of nearby Minas Gerais

3.2 Sao Paulo pg. 232-233

By the mid 1700s, Brazil was producing nearly half of the world’s supply of gold

50 years later, gold deposits were depleted but coffee production became the main economic activity; wealth from coffee contributed to rapid growth in industry and population

Between 1880 and 1900, the population of Sao Paulo jumped from 35,000 to 240,000 due to rural to urban migration and immigration from Asia and Europe

In the mid 1900s, Sao Paulo became the industrial center of Brazil


Manufacturing industries like automobiles and tourism contribute to the city’s economic growth

Slums, or favelas, developed on the outskirts of the city due to the rapid expansion of people who migrated there


Infrastructure—the basic systems that a society needs, such as roads, bridges, and sewers

Venues—locations for organized events

Impact--effect

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) selected Rio de Janeiro as the host of the 2016 Olympics; the first time a South American city has been chosen

3.3 Impact of the Olympics pg. 234-234

Rio previously hosted the 2007 Pan-American Games, only open to countries in the Western Hemisphere

These events mean improvements to the infrastructure and venues must be built or updated

Many hope for long-term improvements such as tearing down overcrowded and dangerous favelas to rebuild better neighborhoods

Hosting the games brings construction jobs and athletes and tourists to boost the economy

3.3 Impact of the Olympics pg. 234-234

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South America Today