Physical Features
What are the region's major landforms?
the Andes, the Guiana Highlands, tepuis, Orinoco River, Llanos
Define cassava. How does this term relates to Colombia's economy
A tropical plant with starchy roots; an important food crop that Colombia exports
Define the term caudillos; how did caudillos impact Venezuela's history?
The country's military leaders during the 1800s; after oil was discovered some caudillos kept the country's oil money for themselves
What countries influenced the early history of the Guianas?
Spain, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands
Define cordillera. How does this relate to the Caribbean South America?
A mountain system made up of parallel ranges - the Andes mountains forms a three-pronged cordillera
Why did the Spanish conquer the Chibcha? Who are the Chibcha?
to seize their gold; a well developed civilization of indigenous people - their gold objects were the finest in ancient America - had interesting gold customs related to new rulers - also practiced pottery, weaving, and metalworking
How did the Spanish contribute to Venezuela's history?
They explored and settled there, farmed and brought enslaved Africans to work fields after many of the South American Indians died as a result of forced labor
Why did colonists in the Guianas bring indentured servants from Asia?
Slavery had been outlawed by European countries, and settlers needed a new sources of labor
How do geographic features affect economic activities in this region?
good soil and moderate climate facilitate farming; also feature minerals and petroleum; mining and drilling; forests create timber harvesting; coasts feature fishing
How have historical events affected life in Colombia today?
African traditions originating from enslaved Africans influence contemporary song and dance; conflicts cause violence and damage the economy; the FARC
Why might Venezuela try to reduce it dependence on oil exports?
Its economy would be less likely to suffer from hardships resulting from lower oil prices
How is French Guiana different from Guyana and Suriname?
Its not an independent country - sends representatives to the French Parliament in Paris
What effect do the Andes have on the region's climate?
create a range of climates - tierra caliente, tierra templada, tierra fria, paramo tierra helada
Describe the major geographic features to Colombia and how these impact its economy
Capital city Bogota located on Andes Mountains; most people live in fertile valleys and basins - moderate climate and good farming; Cauca and Magdalena rivers flow from Andes to Caribbean - they help connect settlements between mountains and coast; cattle ranches common in the Llanos; valuable resources: coffee, bananas, rice, cassava, sugarcane, oil
What are some aspects of Venezuela's culture?
Two thirds of the population are pardos; native groups make up only 2% of population; many languages spoken; most people Roman Catholic; local sports include toros coeados, baseball, soccer
How are pidgin languages in the Guianas an example of cultural cooperation?
they developed as a means of communication among people who spoke different languages - created as a result of indentured servants working together from India, China, and Southeast Asia
Why is the Orinoco River important to this region?
It creates a corridor to the Atlantic Ocean and supports a diverse animal population
What are some characteristics of Colombia's culture?
isolated regions with different cultural traditions; Spanish and South American Indian cultural influences; African influences; Roman Catholicism is the country's main religion; internal conflicts
Why do you think most Venezuelans live along the Caribbean coast and in the valleys of nearby mountains?
to live in a more temperate climates zone rather than a hot, heavily forested zone
How are Guyana, Suriname, and the French Guiana similar today?
Physical geography somewhat isolated from rest of South America, use of indentured servants and pidgin languages, coastal farms, similar resources, diverse population due to history