Unit 5: Cultural Unit 5: Cultural Geography of Latin Geography of Latin

AmericaAmerica

2009 Population – 568,000,0002009 Population – 568,000,000 White/CaucasianWhite/Caucasian 36.1%36.1% MestizoMestizo 30.3%30.3% MulattoMulatto 20.3%20.3% American IndianAmerican Indian 9.2% 9.2% Black/African AmericanBlack/African American 3.2% 3.2%

75% of population lives in urban 75% of population lives in urban areasareas

PopulationPopulation

LanguageLanguage

Spanish is the dominant languageSpanish is the dominant language

Portuguese is the second most Portuguese is the second most common languagecommon language

A wide variety of indigenous A wide variety of indigenous languages, Dutch, English, and languages, Dutch, English, and French are also spokenFrench are also spoken

Christian –Christian – 78.4%78.4% Catholic – Catholic – 71%71% Protestant –Protestant – 6.4%6.4%

Indigenous/tribal, Muslim, Indigenous/tribal, Muslim,

Atheist, agnostic, no particular belief,Atheist, agnostic, no particular belief,

other – other – 21.6%21.6%

ReligionReligion

SocietySociety IncomeIncome

Per capita income varies widely from Per capita income varies widely from country to countrycountry to country

Many Latin Americans live subsistence Many Latin Americans live subsistence liveslives

Poverty rates are very high, especially in Poverty rates are very high, especially in urban areasurban areas

Favela in Caracas, Favela in Caracas, VenezuelaVenezuela

Favela in Sao Paulo, BrazilFavela in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Slums of Mexico CitySlums of Mexico City

HistoryHistory

Native AmericansNative Americans Maya, Aztec (Mexico)Maya, Aztec (Mexico) Inca (Peru)Inca (Peru) many other indigenous peoples many other indigenous peoples

scattered throughout Latin Americascattered throughout Latin America

Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, MexicoMexico

Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Chichen Itza, Yucatan, MexicoMexico

Machu Pichu, PeruMachu Pichu, Peru

ImmigrantsImmigrants SpainSpain PortugalPortugal AfricaAfrica FranceFrance NetherlandsNetherlands

European conquestEuropean conquest

Colonial period (1492-present)Colonial period (1492-present)

Independence Independence movements/revolutions (early 1800s)movements/revolutions (early 1800s)

GovernmentGovernment

Most Latin American nations have some Most Latin American nations have some form of democratic and/or republican form of democratic and/or republican governmentgovernment

Most nations are dominated by a single Most nations are dominated by a single political party; other parties come and go political party; other parties come and go and vary in significanceand vary in significance

Strong military influence in governmentStrong military influence in government

Military coup d'état (illegal takeover) not Military coup d'état (illegal takeover) not uncommonuncommon

EconomyEconomy

Free market/free enterpriseFree market/free enterprise Subsistence farmersSubsistence farmers High urban poverty ratesHigh urban poverty rates Brazil ranks 8Brazil ranks 8thth in national GDP; in national GDP;

Mexico is 14Mexico is 14thth

Haiti is the poorest country in Latin Haiti is the poorest country in Latin America; its per capita GDP is $1,255America; its per capita GDP is $1,255

National currencies include the peso, National currencies include the peso, dollar, Euro, nuevo sol, realdollar, Euro, nuevo sol, real

Agriculture – coffee, sugar, soybeans, Agriculture – coffee, sugar, soybeans, cocoa, rice, corncocoa, rice, corn

Manufacturing – petroleum, food Manufacturing – petroleum, food products, building materialsproducts, building materials

Tourism – Caribbean, Angel Falls, Tourism – Caribbean, Angel Falls, Machu Pichu, Rio de Janeiro (Carnaval) Machu Pichu, Rio de Janeiro (Carnaval)

ArtArt Visual ArtVisual Art

Folk art – much indigenous art is sold to Folk art – much indigenous art is sold to touriststourists

Mexican Muralist Movement (1930s) Mexican Muralist Movement (1930s) Diego RiveraDiego Rivera JosJoséé Orozco Orozco David SiqueirosDavid Siqueiros

JosJoséé Orozco Orozco

Diego RiveraDiego Rivera

ArchitectureArchitecture

Colonial and early republic styles Colonial and early republic styles were heavily influenced by European were heavily influenced by European architecturearchitecture

Oscar Niemeyer Oscar Niemeyer Brazilian architect who designed the Brazilian architect who designed the

government buildings in Brasilia (1950s)government buildings in Brasilia (1950s)

Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, NiterNiteróói, Brazili, Brazil

Congress Building, Brasilia, Congress Building, Brasilia, BrazilBrazil

National Cathedral, Brasilia, National Cathedral, Brasilia, BrazilBrazil

MusicMusic

Habanera – Cuba, mid-1800s Habanera – Cuba, mid-1800s Samba – Brazil, c.1900Samba – Brazil, c.1900 Calypso – Trinidad, early 1900s Calypso – Trinidad, early 1900s Conjunto/Norteño – Mexico, 1950sConjunto/Norteño – Mexico, 1950s Bossa Nova – Brazil, 1950sBossa Nova – Brazil, 1950s Salsa – Cuba, 1960sSalsa – Cuba, 1960s Reggae – Jamaica, 1960sReggae – Jamaica, 1960s

Conjunto (Mexico)Conjunto (Mexico)