This document provides an overview of the geography, history, culture, and economies of Central America and the Caribbean islands. It describes Central America as a narrow isthmus connecting North and South America that contains 7 countries, while the Caribbean islands are comprised of hundreds of islands divided into three main groups. The region has a tropical climate and was colonized by Europeans starting in the 1500s. Today, the countries have similar histories but diverse economies, with many relying on agriculture, tourism, and foreign investment.

1. Chapter 8Central America & the Caribbean

3. Section 1Physical Geography

4. Physical FeaturesSandy beaches, volcanic mts., rain forests, & clear blue water

5. Central AmericaActually the southern part of North America7 countriesBelize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, & PanamaIs an isthmusNarrow strip of land that connects two larger land areasNot more than 125 miles from Pacific Ocean to Caribbean SeaChain of mts. & volcanoes separate Pacific & Caribbean coastal plainsHas a few short riversRugged land & lack of water routes makes travel difficult

6. Caribbean IslandsComprised of hundreds of islandsMake up an archipelago or large group of islandsDivide Caribbean Sea from Atlantic OceanTwo main island groupsGreater Antilles (4 large islands): Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, & Puerto RicoLesser Antilles: other smaller islands; stretch from Virgin Islands to Trinidad and TobagoBahamas: 3rd group of islands; includes 700 islands & thousands of reefs

7. Many islands are the tops of underwater mts. & volcanoesSome began as coral reefs that gradually pushed upTectonic plates have also created some of the islandsEarthquakes & volcanic eruptions occur frequently

8. Climate & VegetationBoth areas are generally sunny & warmHumid tropical & tropical savanna climates are commonAlong Pacific coast original savanna vegetation has been cleared & replaced w/ plantations & ranchesCaribbean coast has areas of tropical rain forestInland mt. areas contain cool, humid climatesCloud forests: a moist, high elevation tropical forest where low clouds are commonTemps generally do not change much from day to night or from summer to winterChange is marked by rainfallwinters = drysummers = rains dailysummer to fall = hurricane season

9. ResourcesLand & climate are best resourcesTourismAgricultureProfitable where volcanic ash has enriched the soilCoffee, bananas, sugarcane, & cottonTimber exported form rain forestsFew mineral resourcesEnergy resources also limitedRely on energy importsLimits devlopment

10. Section 2Central America

11. Early HistoryA.D. 250Maya were building large cities w/ pyramids & templesAbandoned cities around A.D. 900, but ruins remain todayPeople of Maya descent still live in Guatemala & Belize & customs still influence modern life1500sEuropeans controlClaimed mostly by SpainEst. plantations & grew tobacco & sugarcaneMade Indians work on plantations & gold minesEnslaved Africans also brought to regionBritain claimed Belize & part of Nicaragua

12. Central America Since Independence1821Colonies declared independenceRegion remained together as United Provinces of Central AmericaSeparated in 1838-1839Panama remained part of Colombia until 1903Belize remained part of Britain 1981Independence brought little changeWealthy landowners continued to run the countries & the economiesBananas & coffee supported economy

13. Mid-1900sU.S. based United Fruit Company developed railroads & port facilities to help its business in Central AmericaThis helped w/ transportation & communication in regionMany people resented foreign companies for owning so much while others struggled to make a livingLed to armed struggles in many countries

14. CultureInfluenced by colonial historyReflect Spanish and native practicesPeople and LanguagesMost people are mestizos (of mixed European and Indian ancestry)Mostly live in places like the Guatemalan HighlandsAfrican ancestryLive mostly along Caribbean coastIn some countries native Indian languages are still spokenEnglish & Spanish are main languages spoken

15. Religion, Festivals, & FoodMany practice a religion brought by EuropeansRoman Catholic & Protestant ChristiansReligion has influenced celebrations in townsCelebrate special saints’ feast days; EasterDuring festivals people eat traditional foods Corn, tomatoes, hot peppers, and cacao

16. Central America TodayHave similar histories and culturesHave own economic & political challenges2005 Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, el Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, & Nicaragua signed Central American Free Trade Agreement with U.S.Goal is to increase trade among countries

17. GuatemalaMost populous (12 million people)Although most are mestizos, half are Central American Indians & speak Maya languagesMost live in small villages in the highlands1960-1996Fighting between rebels and gov’t forces (200,000 people were killed)Still recovering from conflictCoffee grown in highlandsMajor producer of cardamom (spice used in Asian foods)

18. BelizeSmallest populationNot much land for agricultureEcotourism has become popularPractice of using an area’s natural environment to attract touristsCome to see coral reefs, Maya ruins, & coastal resorts

19. HondurasMountainous countryMost people live in mt. valleys & along northern coastRugged land makes transportation difficultLittle land to grow cropsBananas & citrus fruits are important exports

20. El SalvadorA few rich families own much of the best land while most people live in poverty1980sCivil war resulted from land disputesMany people were killed & economy sufferedPeople are working to rebuild their country since end of civil war in 1992Country has fertile soilGrow & export coffee and sugarcane

21. NicaraguaRebuilding after civil war1979A group called the Sandinistas overthrew a dictatorMany supported this group, but rebel forces (aided by U.S.) fought Sandinistas for power1990Civil war ended w/ electionsNow a democracy

22. Costa RicaHas a history of peaceHas stable, democratic gov’tDoes not have an armyProgress made in reducing povertyCoffee & bananas are important to economyTourism also important

23. PanamaMost people live near Panama CanalCanal fees & local industries make area most prosperous in country1914Panama Canal was built by U.S. as a link from Pacific Ocean to Caribbean SeaU.S. controlled canal until 1999

24. Section 3The Caribbean Islands

25. Early History1492Columbus sailed for Spain & was 1st to sail into Caribbean SeaThought he had reached the IndiesCalled islands the West Indies & people IndiansSpain had little interest in smaller islandsEnglish, French, Dutch, & Danish didEst. colonies & built huge sugarcane plantationsMost Caribbean Indians had died from disease so African slaves were brought in to work plantationsSoon Africans & people of African descent outnumbered Europeans on many islands

26. IndependenceToussaint-L’OuvertureLed a slave revoltHelped Haiti win independence from France in 1804Idea of independence spreadMid-1800sDominican Republic gained independenceU.S. won Cuba from SpainCuba gained independence in 1902Other countries had to wait about 40 years for independenceAfter WWII; Europeans transferred political power peacefullySome are still not independentSome are provinces or territories of other countries

27. CultureSigns of past colonialism & slaveryPeople, Languages, & ReligionMost people are descended from Europeans or from African slavesOr a mixtureSpanish, French, English, or European and African languagesCreole: spoken by Haitians; a dialect or a regional variety of a languageCatholic, blend of Catholicism and traditional African religions

28. Festivals and FoodVariety of holidays celebratedCarnival: time of feasts & celebration before Lent Often include great musicFood & cooking also reflects pastFood from Africa like yams & okraCurry

29. The Caribbean Islands TodayHave similar history & cultureEconomies differ as well as gov’t & cultural landscapes

30. Puerto RicoWas a Spanish colonyToday U.S. commonwealthself-governing territory associated w/ another countryAre U.S. citizens, but no voting representation in CongressDebate to remain commonwealth or U.S. state or independent countryU.S. aid & investment have helped develop economyWages are lower & unemployment is higher than in U.S.

31. HaitiMountainous western third of island of HispaniolaHas limited industryAgricultural products like coffee and sugarcane are main exportsMost farm small plots of landIs the poorest country in the AmericasHas had corrupt gov’tViolence, political unrest, & poverty have created many political refugeesSomeone who flees to another country, usually for political or economic resasons

32. Dominican RepublicOccupies eastern half of HispaniolaCapital of Santo Domingo was the 1st permanent European settlement in the Western HemisphereNot a rich countryEconomy, health care, & housing are more developed than HaitiAgriculture is basis of economyTourism is growing

33. CubaLargest & most populous in Caribbean92 miles from FloridaRun by Communist since 1959 when Fidel Castro came to powerTook over banks, plantations, & other businesses (many owned by U.S. companies)U.S. banned trade with Cuba & restricted travel there by U.S. citizensTodayGov’t still controls economyFarms are organizes as cooperatives or gov’t owned plantationsCooperative: an organization owned by its members and operated for their mutual benefitGov’t also controls all newspapers, television, and radio stationsSome support gov’t policies & other have become refugees in the U.S.

34. Other IslandsJamaicaLargest remaining Caribbean countrySaint Kitts and NevisSmallest countryMany are not countries but territoriesU.S. & British Virgin IslandsNetherlands and France also have territoriesSome islands have enough land to grow coffee, sugarcane, or spicesMost economies are based on tourismGood for economy, but sometimes harms environment