South America
You have reached the final part of your journey through Latin America and the Caribbean. South America shares many cultural characteristics with the rest of the region. Indigenous civilizations once controlled large areas of the continent. During the sixteenth century, Spain and Portugal colonized most of the region. Many South American nations experienced rapid economic development and population growth during the twentieth century. In this topic, you will learn more about the cultural and economic influences of this region.
Essential Questions
- What are the major regions and cities of South America?
- What cultural influences and landscapes define South America?
- What characteristics define the economic activities of South America?
Warm-Up
A mental map is based on your own understanding and perceptions, not exact measurements. Take a moment to recall the physical geography of South America. Without looking the information up, attempt to draw the major physical features and regions of South America. You may draw the entire map or use the South American Mental Map Template.
Once you have finished, compare your mental map with this image. Which aspects of the map did you include? Which aspects did you forget?