world geo ch 9 and 10

Chapter 9:

Paraná River - has its origins in the highlands of southern Brazil; traces about 3000 miles south and west through Paraguay and Argentina; called Rio de Plata,

Amazon River - flows 4000 miles from west to east emptying into the Atlantic Ocean; start in andes mountain flows eastward to atlantic; fed by over 1000 tributes some of rivers, carries more water to ocean than any other river in the world 

Orinoco River - Winds through the northern part of the continent, mainly in venezuela; flows over more than 1500 miles from the colmbia-venezuela border to Atlantic.

 Pampas - areas if grasslands and rich soil; found in Argentina and uruguay; main product of is cattle and wheat grain 

Llanos - Colombia and venezuela contian vast plains called; which are grassy, treeless areas used for livestock grazing and farming 

Infrastructure - includes thing such as sewers, transportation, electricity and housing 

Cerrado - expansive lands, savannas with flat terrain and moderate rainfall that make sustainable for farming 

Andes mountain - found in south america, is apart of the chain mountain ranges that run through the western portion of north, central and south america; barrier to movement into the interior 

Terraced Farming  - ancient technique for growing crops on hillsides or mountain slopes; important for mountianous areas; farmers and workers cut step like horizontal fields into hillsides and slopes which allow steep land to be cultivated for crops; technique reduces soil erosion 

Slash-and-burn  - to clear fields native peoples used; to cut trees, brush, and grasses and burned the debris to clear field; effective in humid and tropical areas 

Chapter 10:

Mercosur - Southern common market, known by spanish abbreviation, is a trade block established by treaty of Asuncion

Cultural Mosaic- mix of diff cultures

Cultural Hearth  - is a place from which important ideas spread; origin or place of major culture

United Provinces of Central America - when central america had been governed from mexico; region delacred independence and took the name of 

Simon Bolivar- venezuelan guy and military dude who lead colombia bolivia venezuela ecuador  peru panamama to independence from spain

Treaty of Tordesillas  - portugal gained control over land that became present day Brazil ; 2 European powers reached agreement to divide south america resulting in 

Dom Pedro founder first ruler of empire of brazil 

Informal Economy  - people find jobs in ; takes place outside of official channels without benefits or protection for workers 

United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement(USMCA) - free trade agreement between mexico, canada and us 

Panama Canal - cuts through land bridge and connect the atlantic and pacific oceans; trade is important because of this 

Main Ideas:(Multiple Choice)(True/False) 

Understand these key concepts

Chapter 9:

Three major island groups of the Caribbean

 bahamas,lower and higher antilles  


Three major river systems in South America o

Orinoco, amazon and parana


Mexico and the United States call the Andes Mountain chain in their region

Mexico = sierra madre 


two main purposes for which the plains and grasslands of the region are used

Livestock grazing and agriculture 

 Does Vertical climate zones of Latin America affect agriculture because everyone grows the same crops? 

No vertical climates zones in latin america do not mean everyone grows the same crops 

Chapter 10:

The Aztec Empire fell under the rule of Spain


Maquiladoras - a low cost factory in mexico that is owned by foreign corporation; assemble products and export them back to US and other countries 


NAFTA- a free trade zone in north america; signed by 1992 by canada, mexico, and US and took effect on january 1994 


Who conquered Brazil - Pedro Alvares Cabral disembarked in Brazil with 1200 Portuguese adventurers after badly missing his destination in southern africa. Colony became portuguese claim and earned unique identity 


Francisco Pizarro - spanish conquistador, known for expeditions led to the spanish conquest for the inca empire 


Calypso- style of music that originated in trinidad and tobago, caribbean island nation, characterized by lively rhythm, satirical lyrics and incorporation of elements from african spanisha and caribbean cultures . Talks about protest and politcal commentary 


Authoritarian rule -  system of government in which political power is held by small minority often against will of people 


Economies of Central America and the Caribbean- sectors are agriculture and tourism, and services related to strategic geographical location; like panama canal 


Major groups of people that shaped the cultures of both Central America and the Caribbean - the indigenous peoples of maya, european colonizers (spanish), and people of african descent who were brought as slaves 

How did colonialism contribute to and actually prolong the underdevelopment of economies in many Central American, South American, and Caribbean countries? Colonialism prolonged the underdevelopment of the countries of Central America, South American, and Caribbean because of lack of gov. And  eco. Their labor products were taken and sold as european products for european profit. They had to head the rule of the portuguese king. With mistreatment they revoked and got freedom. But in result of the previous actions of europe they were left uneducated on how to uphold their own society