Lecture Notes: South America Overview

6.1 Identifying the Boundaries

• Geographical Location:

  • South America, referred to as the New World by Europeans, is south of North America.
  • Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (east) and Pacific Ocean (west).
  • Isthmus of Panama to the north; Caribbean Sea as the northern boundary.

• Latitude and Climate:

  • Equator crosses northern South America.
  • Tropic of Capricorn passes through São Paulo and the Atacama Desert.
  • Regions include the Amazon Basin (tropical) and Southern Cone (temperate).
  • Southern boundary: Tierra del Fuego and Cape Horn.

• Islands Associated with South America:

  • Galapagos Islands (Ecuador), Falkland Islands (British, contested by Argentina), Easter Island (Chile).

6.2 Introducing the Realm

• Physical Features:

  • Andes Mountains: mineral wealth, isolation for Inca Empire.
  • Amazon River: large drainage, tropical rainforest.
  • Pampas and Patagonia: agriculture and cattle ranching.

• Colonial Impact:

  • Dominated by Spain and Portugal.
  • European diseases and trade altered Indigenous cultures.
  • Introduction of African slaves and indentured Asian workers.

• Cultural Regions:

  • Diverse ethnic groups: European, African, Amerindian, Asian.
  • Regions defined by majority ethnic groups and colonial history.

• Modern Economic Development:

  • Urbanization and integration with global markets.
  • Economic disparity: core (urban) vs. periphery (rural).
  • UNASUR formed to facilitate regional economic integration.

Key Geographical Features

• Andes Mountains:

  • Longest mountain chain, barrier to travel, source of minerals.

• Amazon River:

  • Largest river by discharge, debate over length with Nile.
  • Enormous ecosystem, major tributaries include Rio Negro, Madeira.

• Lake Titicaca:

  • High-altitude lake, supports agriculture due to solar heating.

• Atacama Desert:

  • Driest desert, significant mineral resources (copper, nitrates).

• Agricultural Regions:

  • Cerrado, Pampas, Patagonia: diverse agricultural activities.

Colonial Legacies and Modern Challenges

• Colonialism:

  • Division of South America by Spain (west) and Portugal (east).
  • Impact on language, religion (Roman Catholicism), and trade.

• Cultural Diversity:

  • Ethnic mosaic due to colonial legacy and labor imports.
  • Guyana, Suriname: significant Asian population due to indentured servitude.

• Economic Challenges:

  • Natural resource wealth not evenly distributed.
  • Historical exploitation by foreign corporations.

Discussion Topics

1. Physical features: Andes Mountains and Amazon River.
2. Colonial division: Spain and Portugal's legacy.
3. Inca Empire's fall to Spanish conquest.
4. Ethnic composition of the Guianas.
5. Economic integration efforts like UNASUR.

Geography Exercises

• Identify key geographical locations on a map, such as the Andes, Amazon Basin, Pampas, and notable islands.

Additional Regions Overview

6.3 Urban North and Andean West

• Venezuela: Urban, oil-based economy, political instability.
• Colombia: Coffee, oil, and drug trade; conflict with insurgent groups.
• Andean Countries: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia – rich indigenous culture, resource extraction.

6.4 Brazil

• Ethnic Diversity: Mixture of European, African, and Indigenous heritage.
• Economic Core and Periphery: Urban core (Southeast); Amazon as resource-rich periphery.
• Environmental Concerns: Deforestation in the Amazon.

6.5 The Southern Cone

• Countries: Uruguay, Argentina, Chile.
• Economic Potential: Agriculture, natural resources.
• European Ancestry: Dominant in population demographics.

Final Key Takeaways

• Major physical features are central to South America’s geography.
• Colonial history has shaped ethnic and cultural dynamics.
• Modern economic challenges focus on resource distribution and environmental sustainability.
• Efforts towards regional economic integration are ongoing.