South America Knowledge Organiser (Y8 Geography)

Magma: Defined as molten rock found underground.
Tectonic plates: These are identified as chunks of the Earth’s crust that move around.
Agriculture: Another term for farming, specifically the practice of growing crops and the keeping of animals for the purposes of food and trade.
Hierarchy: The method of ordering or categorising by importance.
Civilisation: A term for a human society that exhibits a very complex and well-organised structure.
Ecosystem: Refers to a group of organisms (living things) interacting with their environment (non-living things).
Climate change resilient: The process of finding ways to cope with changes in the climate.

Landmass Formation: South America was originally formed when magma bubbled up between tectonic plates, and the resulting lava cooled to create new land.
Continental Drift: Due to the process of continental drift, South America and Africa were broken apart from one another, fitting together like puzzle pieces.
Regional Classification: South America eventually joined with North America to form the region known as Latin America.

Origins and Lifestyle: The first people to arrive in South America were nomadic hunter-gatherers. They travelled across the land in a constant search for food and resources.
The Land Bridge: These early populations likely walked to the continent across a land bridge that existed between Asia and North America.
Chronology: This migration occurred during the last ice age.
Social Structure: In these early societies, there was a uniform job role; everyone performed the same tasks of hunting and gathering food.

Societal Complexity: The development of agriculture was the catalyst that allowed more complex societies to emerge.
Social Stratification: The establishment of a social hierarchy created distinct roles within society. * Farmers and Surfs: This group was responsible for supplying the food for the society. * Kings and Emperors: Because the food supply was secured, leaders could focus their efforts on expanding their civilisation.
The Aztecs: Aztec priests performed a specific cultural role by organising sacrifices to the gods. The purpose of these rituals was to ensure a successful harvest.
The Incas: The Incan civilisation adapted to cold mountain climates by creating stone terraces. These structures allowed them to grow crops in cold weather by trapping the heat of the sun.

Overview: Early people established settlements across all of Latin America’s diverse ecosystems, each offering unique climates and natural resources.
Amazon Rainforest: * Climate: Characterised by a high volume of sun and rainfall. * Vegetation: Home to billions of trees. * Resources and Hazards: Features an abundance of fruit and vegetables, alongside dangerous animals.
Andes Mountains: * Climate and Terrain: mostly cold and wet with steep slopes. * Biodiversity: Supports $600$ mammals, explicitly including llamas and alpacas.
Atacama Desert: * Climate: Described as cool and extremely dry. * Water Scarcity: Contains virtually no water. * Mineral Wealth: Contains significant deposits of gold, copper, and silver buried underground.
Pampas Grasslands: * Climate: Described as warm and quite wet. * Land Use: Highly suitable for grazing animals. * Natural Disasters: Common occurrences include thunderstorms, tornadoes, and wildfires.

How did agriculture lead to new civilisations?
What are the specific ecosystem facts and resources for each region?
How was Latin America formed geologically?
Who were the first people to arrive in Latin America and how did they get there?