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Report On:
South American Society
Course Title : Introduction to Sociology
Course Code : SOC 2124
Semester : Spring- 2017
Date : 4th
April, 2017
Submitted by
Name ID
Mohammed Kalimullah Mashud 2016110000094
Afifa Nusrat Chowdhury 2016010000330
Md. Jarif Mohimin 2016010000321
Jamil Hasan 2016010000347
Farjana Akter Shila 2016010000060
Submitted To
Sharmeen Akter
Lecturer, School of Business Studies
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Letter of Transmittal
April 04, 2017
Sharmeen Akter
Lecturer,
School of Business Studies
Southeast University
Subject: Submission on the report on South American Society.
Dear Sir,
With due respect, we would like to inform you that we are assigned to submit a final report on
South American Society. It allows us to have an in-depth idea about the factors of different
aspects of South American Society, we have learned into our course that should be taken into
consideration. In writing this report, we have followed the instructions that you have given, and
we have also applied relevant concepts that we have learnt throughout our course.
If you need further clarification on any issues, please inform us anytime at your convenience. We
would be thankful if you please give your judicious advice.
Sincerely yours,
Mohammed Kalimullah Mashud; ID: 2016110000094
Afifa Nusrat Chowdhury; ID: 2016010000330
Md. Jarif Mohimin; ID: 2016010000321
Jamil Hasasn; ID: 2016010000347
Farjana Akter Shila; ID: 2016010000060
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Acknowledgement
At first we would like to thank our beloved parents who have brought us to the world and have
made us so much capable to do our job properly. In performing our assignment, we had to take
help and guideline of some respected persons, who deserve our greatest gratitude. The
completion of this assignment gives us much pleasure. We would like to show our gratitude to
course instructor Ms. Sharmeen Akter, lecturer of Southeast University for giving us a good
guideline for assignment throughout numerous consultation. We would also like to expand our
gratitude to all those who have directly and indirectly guided us in writing this assignment. Many
people, especially our classmates and team members itself, have made valuable comment
suggestions on this proposal which gave us an inspiration to improve our assignment. We thank
all the people for their help directly and indirectly to complete our assignment.
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Table of Content
Page No
1. Introduction of Society…….…………………………............................... 07
2. South American Society …………………………………….. .................. 07
3. Geography …………………….……………………….. ........................... 08
4. Climate …………..………..……………............................... ..................... 08
5. History………………………………........................................................... 09
6. Politics………………………………........................................................... 10
7. Wars and Conflicts………………………………...................................... 10
8. Culture……………………………….......................................................... 13
9. Effects of Skin Color……………………………….................................... 14
10. Education………………………………...................................................... 15
11. Language………………………………....................................................... 16
12. Genetic Studies………………………………............................................. 16
13. Religion………………………………......................................................... 16
14. Food………………………………............................................................... 18
15. Economy………………………………........................................................ 20
16. Energy………………………………........................................................... 22
17. Tourism………………………………......................................................... 22
18. Transports………………………………..................................................... 23
19. Sports………………………………............................................................. 24
20. Traditions and Customs………………………………............................... 25
21. Conclusion..………………………………................................................... 27
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Introduction Of Society:
A society is a group of people involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social
grouping sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political
authority and dominant cultural expectations. Societies are characterized by patterns of
relationships between individuals who share a distinctive culture and institutions; a given society
may be described as the sum total of such relationships among its constituent members.
Sociologist Peter L. Berger defines society as "...a human product, and nothing but a human
product, that yet continuously acts upon its producers." According to him, society was created by
humans but this creation turns back and creates or molds humans every day.[4]
Sociologist Gerhard Lenski differentiates societies based on their level of technology,
communication, and economy:
(1) hunters and gatherers
(2) simple agricultural
(3) advanced agricultural
(4) industrial
(5) special
This is similar to the system earlier developed by anthropologists Morton H. Fried, a conflict
theorist, and Elman Service, an integration theorist, who have produced a system of classification
for societies in all human cultures based on the evolution of social inequality and the role of
the state. This system of classification contains four categories:
Hunter-gatherer bands (categorization of duties and responsibilities).
Tribal societies in which there are some limited instances of social rank and prestige.
Stratified structures led by chieftains.
Civilizations, with complex social hierarchies and organized, institutional governments.
South American Society:
South America is believed to have been joined
with Africa from the late Paleozoic Era to the
early Mesozoic Era, until
the supercontinent Pangaea began to rift and break apart
about 225 million years ago. Therefore, South America
and Africa share similar fossils and rock layers.
South America is thought to have been first inhabited by
humans when people were crossing the Bering Land
Bridge (now the Bering Strait) at least 15,000 years ago
from the territory that is present-day Russia. They
migrated south through North America, and eventually
reached South America through the Isthmus of Panama.
The first evidence for the existence of the human race in
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South America dates back to about 9000 BC, when squashes, chili peppers and beans began to be
cultivated for food in the highlands of the Amazon Basin. Pottery evidence further suggests
that manioc, which remains a staple food today, was being cultivated as early as 2000 BC.
By 2000 BC, many agrarian communities had been settled throughout the Andes and the
surrounding regions. Fishing became a widespread practice along the coast, helping establish fish
as a primary source of food. Irrigation systems were also developed at this time, which aided in
the rise of an agrarian society.
South American cultures began domesticating llamas, vicuñas, guanacos, and alpacas in the
highlands of the Andes circa 3500 BC. Besides their use as sources of meat and wool, these
animals were used for transportation of goods.
Geography:
South America occupies the southern portion of
the Americans. The continent is generally delimited on
the northwest by the Darién watershed along
the Colombia–Panama border, although some may
consider the border instead to be the Panama
Canal. Geopolitically and geographically all
of Panama – including the segment east of the Panama
Canal in the isthmus – is typically included in North
America] and among the countries of Central
America. Almost all of mainland South America sits
on the South American Plate.
South America is home to the world's highest
uninterrupted waterfall, Angel Falls in Venezuela; the
highest single drop waterfall Kaieteur Falls in Guyana;
the largest river (by volume), the Amazon River; the
longest mountain range, the Andes (whose highest
mountain is Aconcagua at 6,962 m [22,841 ft]); the
driest non-polar place on earth, the Atacama Desert
]the largest rainforest, the Amazon Rainforest; the
highest capital city, La Paz, Bolivia; the highest
commercially navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca; and, excluding research stations
in Antarctica, the world's southernmost permanently inhabited community, Puerto Toro, Chile.
Climate:
The distribution of the average temperatures in the region presents a constant regularity from
the 30° of latitude south, when the isotherms tend, more and more, to be confused with the
degrees of latitude.
In temperate latitudes, winters are milder and summers warmer than in North America. Because
its most extensive part of the continent is located in the equatorial zone, the region has more
areas of equatorial plains than any other region.
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The average annual temperatures in the Amazon basin oscillate around 27 °C, with low thermal
amplitudes and high rainfall indices. Between the Maracaibo Lake and the mouth of the Orinoco,
predominates an equatorial climate of the type Congolese, that also includes parts of the
Brazilian territory.
The east-central Brazilian plateau has a humid and warm tropical climate. The northern and
eastern parts of the Argentine pampas have a humid subtropical climate with dry winters and
humid summers of the Chinese type. At the highest points of the Andean region, climates are
colder than the ones occurring at the highest point of the Norwegian fjords. In the Andean
plateaus, the warm climate prevails, although it is tempered by the altitude, while in the coastal
strip, there is an equatorial climate of the Guinean type.
The distribution of rainfall is related to the regime of winds and air masses. In most of
the tropical region east of the Andes, winds blowing from the northeast, east and southeast carry
moisture from the Atlantic, causing abundant rainfall. In the Orinoco lhanos and in the Guianas
plateau, the precipitations go from moderate to high. The Pacific coast of Colombia and northern
Ecuador are rainy regions. The Atacama Desert, along this stretch of coast, is one of the driest
regions in the world. The central and southern parts of Chile are subject to cyclones, and most of
the Argentine Patagonia is desert. In the pampas of Argentina, Uruguay and South of Brazil the
rainfall is moderate, with rains well distributed during the year. The moderately dry conditions of
the Chaco oppose the intense rainfall of the eastern region of Paraguay. In the semiarid coast of
the Brazilian Northeast the rains are linked to a monsoon regime.
Important factors in the determination of climates are sea currents, such as the current Humboldt
and Falklands. The equatorial current of the South Atlantic strikes the coast of the Northeast and
there is divided into two others: the current of Brazil and a coastal current that flows to the
northwest towards the Antilles, where there it moves towards northeast course thus forming the
most Important and famous ocean current in the world, the Gulf Stream.
History:
South America is believed to have been joined with Africa from the late Paleozoic Era to the
early Mesozoic Era, until the supercontinent Pangaea began to rift and break apart about 225
million years ago. Therefore, South America and Africa share similar fossils and rock layers.
South America is thought to have been first inhabited by humans when people were crossing
the Bering Land Bridge (now the Bering Strait) at least 15,000 years ago from the territory that is
present-day Russia. They migrated south through North America, and eventually reached South
America through the Isthmus of Panama.
The first evidence for the existence of the human race in South America dates back to about
9000 BC, when squashes, chili peppers and beans began to be cultivated for food in the
highlands of the Amazon Basin. Pottery evidence further suggests that manioc, which remains
a staple food today, was being cultivated as early as 2000 BC.
By 2000 BC, many agrarian communities had been settled throughout the Andes and the
surrounding regions. Fishing became a widespread practice along the coast, helping establish fish
as a primary source of food. Irrigation systems were also developed at this time, which aided in
the rise of an agrarian society.
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South American cultures began domesticating llamas, vicuñas, guanacos, and alpacas in the
highlands of the Andes circa 3500 BC. Besides their use as sources of meat and wool, these
animals were used for transportation of goods.
Politics:
Historically, the Hispanic countries was founded as republican dictatorships led by caudillos,
while Brazil was the only exception, being a constitutional monarchy for its first 67 years of
independence, until a coup d'ètat proclaim the republic. In late 19th century, the most democratic
countries were Brazil, Chile, Argentina and Uruguay.
In the interwar period, nationalism grown stronger in the continent influenced by countries
like Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. A series of authoritarian rules broke out in South American
countries with views bringing the closer to the axis power, like Quasi-Fascist Brazil of Getúlio
Vargas or the Perón's Argentina. In the late 20th century, during the Cold War, many countries
became military dictatorships in attempts avoid communism. The most prominent dictator
was Augusto Pinochet of Chile. After the fall of the communism, these countries became
democratic republics.
During the first decade of the 21st century, South American governments have drifted to the
political left, with leftist leaders being elected in Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador,
Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. Most South American countries are making an
increasing use of protectionist policies, helping local development.
All South American countries are presidential republics with the exception of Guyana, which is
a semi-presidential republic. French Guiana is a French overseas department, while the Falkland
Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are British colonies. It is currently the
only continent in the world without monarchies, although there existed during the 19th century
the Empire of Brazil and an attempt to establish a so-called Kingdom of Araucanía and
Patagonia in southern Argentina and Chile, without success. Also in the twentieth
century Suriname was established as the Kingdom of the Netherlands constituent kingdom
and Guyana remained as a Commonwealth Realm for 4 years after its independence.
Recently, an intergovernmental entity has been formed which aims to merge the two existing
customs unions: Mercosur and the Andean Community, thus forming the third-largest trade bloc
in the world. This new political organization known as Union of South American Nations seeks
to establish free movement of people, economic development, a common defense policy and the
elimination of tariffs.
Wars and Conflicts:
The South-American history in early 19th century was built almost exclusively in wars. Despite
the Spanish American wars of independence and the Brazilian War of Independence, quickly the
new nations began to suffer with internal conflicts and wars among themselves.
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Cisplatine War:
In 1825 the proclamation of
independence of Cisplatina led to
the Cisplatine War between the
historical rivals Empire of
Brazil and the United Provinces
of the Río de la Plata, Argentina's
predecessor. The result was a
stalemate by the British with the
independence of Uruguay. Soon
after, the another Brazilian
province proclaimed its
independence leading to
the Ragamuffin War which
Brazil won.
War of the Confederation:
Between 1836 and 1839 the War of the Confederation broke out between the short-lived Peru-
Bolivian Confederation and Chile, with the support of the Argentine Confederation. The war was
fought mostly in the actual territory of Peru and ended with a Confederate defeat and the
dissolution of the Confederacy and annexation of many territories by Argentina.
Argentine Civil Wars:
Meanwhile the Argentine Civil Wars beat Argentina since its independence. The conflict was
mainly between those who defended the centralization of power in Buenos Aires and those who
defended a confederation. During this period it can be said that "there were two Argentines"; the
first was the Argentine Confederation, and the second the Argentine Republic.
Uruguayan Civil War:
During Argentine Civil Wars the political instability in Uruguay led to the Uruguayan Civil
War among the main political factions of the country. All this instability in the platine
region interfered with the politics and goals of other countries such as Brazil, which was soon
forced to take sides and intervene to put an end to this situation.
Platine War:
Platine War – Brazilian warships passing through defences at The Tonelero.
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In 1851 the Brazilian Empire supporting the centralizing unitarians and the uruguayn
government invaded Argentina in what was known as the Platine War and deposed the
caudillo Juan Manuel Rosas that ruled the confederation with iron hand, which although it did
not put an end to the political chaos and civil war in Argentina, but brought temporary peace to
Uruguay where the Colorados faction supported by the Brazilian Empire, British Empire, French
Empire and the Unitarian Party of Argentina won.
Uruguayan War:
A peace that lasted little, because in 1864 the Uruguayan factions faced each other again in
the Uruguayan War. The Blancos supported by Paraguay start to attack Brazilian and Argentine
farmers in the borders. The Empire made an initial attempt to settle the dispute between Blancos
and Colorados without success.
Paraguayan War:
The Paraguayan War begin when the Paraguayan dictator Francisco Solano López ordered the
invasion of the Brazilian provinces of MatoGrosso and Rio Grande do Sul. His attempt to cross
Argentinian territory without the Argentinian approval led the pro-Brazilian argentine
government into the war. Also the pro-Brazilian Uruguayan government show its support by
sending troops. In 1865 the three countries signed the Treaty of the Triple Alliance against
Paraguay. At the beginning of the war, the Paraguayans took the lead with several victories, until
the Triple Alliance organized to repel the invaders and fight effectively. This was the
second total war experience in the world after the American Civil War.
War of the Pacific:
The last war to break out in this century was the War of the Pacific with Bolivia and Peru on one
side and Chile on the other. In 1879 the war began with Chilean troops occupying Bolivian ports
followed by Bolivia declaring war on Chile which activated an alliance treaty with Peru. The war
lasted for 4 years until 1883 with the War of the Pacific defeating completely the Bolivians in
1880 and occupying Lima in 1881. The peace was signed with Peru in 1883 while a truce was
signed with Bolivia in 1884.
In the new century, as wars became less violent and less frequent. Brazil entered into a small
conflict with a Bolivia for the possession of the Acre, which was acquired by Brazil in 1902. In
1917 Brazil declared war on the Central Powers and join the allied side in the World War I,
sending a small fleet to the Mediterranean Sea and some troops to integrate the British and
French troops. It was the only South American country to fought this war. Later in
1932 Colombia and Peru entered a short armed conflict for possession in the Amazon. In the
same year Paraguay declared war on Bolivia for the possession of the Chaco, in a conflict that
had three years later with a victory of Paraguay. Between 1941 and
1942 Peru and Ecuador fought decisively for territories claimed by both that were annexed by
Peru, removing from Ecuador its frontier with Brazil.
The last war to be fought on South American soil was the Falkland War between Argentina and
the United Kingdom for the possession of the islands of the same name, with Argentina defeated
in 1982.
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Culture:
South Americans are culturally influenced by their indigenous peoples, the historic connection
with the Iberian Peninsula and Africa, and waves of immigrants from around the globe.
South American nations have a rich
variety of music. Some of the most
famous genres
include vallenato and cumbia from
Colombia, pasillo from Colombia and
Ecuador, samba, bossa
nova and músicasertaneja from
Brazil, and tango from Argentina and
Uruguay. Also well known is the
non-commercial folk genre Nueva
Canción movement which was
founded in Argentina and Chile and
quickly spread to the rest of the Latin Tango show in Buenos Aires, typical argentine dance.
America. People on the Peruvian coast created the fine guitar and cajon duos or trios in the most
mestizo (mixed) of South American rhythms such as the Marinera (from Lima),
the Tondero (from Piura), the 19th century popular Creole Valse or Peruvian Valse, the soulful
ArequipanYaravi, and the early 20th century Paraguayan Guarania. In the late 20th
century, Spanish rock emerged by young hipsters influenced by British pop and American
rock. Brazil has a Portuguese-language pop rock industry as well a great variety of other music
genres.
The literature of South America has attracted considerable critical and popular acclaim,
especially with the Latin American Boom of the 1960s and 1970s, and the rise of authors such
as Mario Vargas Llosa, Gabriel GarcíaMárquez in novels and Jorge Luis Borges and Pablo
Neruda in other genres. The Brazilians Machado de Assis and JoãoGuimarães Rosa are widely
regarded as the greatest Brazilian writers.
Because of South America's broad ethnic mix, South American cuisine has African, South
American Indian, Asian, and European influences. Bahia, Brazil, is especially well known for its
West African–influenced cuisine. Argentines, Chileans, Uruguayans, Brazilians, Bolivians, and
Venezuelans regularly consume wine. Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and people in southern
Chile, Bolivia and Brazil drink mate, a herb which is brewed. The Paraguayan version, terere,
differs from other forms of mate in that it is served cold. Pisco is a liquor distilled from grapes in
Peru and Chile. Peruvian cuisine mixes elements from Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Italian,
African, Arab, Andean, and Amazonic food.
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Effects of Skin Color:
Throughout Latin America, countries have long sought to claim immunity from the racial and
ethnic divisions that plague the rest of the world. But that is changing as several countries—
including Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, and Peru—have begun to recognize the diverse
nature of their societies and constitutionally declare themselves as multicultural. Race and
ethnicity-based social and economic inequalities are also beginning to be recognized. As early as
1944, Alejandro Lipschutz, a Chilean anthropologist, coined the idea of Latin America as a
“pigmentocracy”—where the region’s social hierarchies are ethnic or color-based. However, that
idea was largely ignored until recently, when research using new census data on racial
identification began to document racial inequalities.
The most pronounced pigmentocracies are Guatemala and Bolivia, which seem to reflect the low
status of their especially large Indigenous populations. However, we do not find the
pigmentocratic relation in five countries. In Panama, and to a lesser extent in Costa Rica and
Honduras, we discover a U-shaped relation between skin color and education. Our findings also
reveal the lack of a pigmentocracy in Belize and Guyana.
relation between skin color and educational attainment in latin america and the caribbean
The statistical analysis shows that inequalities by skin color are not merely results of historical
processes; rather, they occur independently of class origins (measured by parental occupation).
This suggests that racial differences also are being reproduced in the current generation.
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Education:
Latin America’s education systems suffer from low levels of learning, limited opportunities for
the poor, bureaucratic paralysis and chronic conflicts with teachers’ unions. The solutions are
neither magical nor beyond human capability: taking action to establish standards of
performance and quality, improving the teaching profession and increasing spending for the
neediest are key to ameliorating education in the region.
Schools in Latin America clearly need a serious overhaul. Although enrolments at every level are
increasing, most children receive poor quality education. On recent international tests of
mathematics and science, roughly half of Latin American students scored at or below the lowest
proficiency levels, indicating that they had difficulty applying basic concepts to real life
situations.
Education is also highly unequal. Despite growing access to primary school, poor children in
Latin America are roughly half as likely to enroll in pre-school and two to 10 times less likely to
graduate from upper secondary as their richer peers. Students from poorer families also score
lower on tests, between one to two proficiency levels lower on the OECD’s 2006 Programme in
International Student Achievement (PISA) science exam than those from higher income families.
Indigenous and Afro-Latino children also remain at a disadvantage.
There are still 23 million children in the region between the ages of 4 and 17 outside of the
formal education system. Estimates indicate that 30% of preschool age children (ages 4 –5) do
not attend school, and for the most vulnerable populations – poor, rural, indigenous and afro-
descendants - this calculation exceeds 40 percent. Among primary school age children (ages 6 to
12), coverage is almost universal; however there is still a need to incorporate 5 million children
in the primary education system. These children live mostly in remote areas, are indigenous or
Afro-descendants and live in extreme poverty.
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Language:
Spanish and Portuguese are the most spoken languages in South
America, with approximately 200 million speakers each.
Spanish is the official language of most countries, along with
other native languages in some countries. Portuguese is the official
language of Brazil. Dutch is the official language
of Suriname; English is the official language of Guyana,
although there are at least twelve other languages spoken in
the country, including Portuguese, Chinese, Hindustani and
several native languages.[83] English is also spoken in
the Falkland Islands. French is the official language
of French Guiana and the second language in Amapá, Brazil.
Other languages found in South America include
Hindustani
Italian
Welsh
Guarani
Chinese
Aymara
Quechua
Genetic Studies:
Genetic admixture occurs at very high levels in South America. In Argentina, the European
influence accounts for 65%–79% of the genetic background, 17%–31% of the Amerindian and
2%–4% of sub-Saharan African. In Colombia, the Sub-Saharan African genetic background
varied from 1% to 89%, while the European genetic background varied from 20% to 79%,
depending on the region. In Peru, European ancestries ranged from 1% to 31%, while the African
contribution was only 1% to 3%. The Genographic Project determined the average Peruvian
from Lima had about 28% of European ancestry, 68% of native American, 2% of Asian ancestry
and 2% of sub-Saharan Africa.
Religion:
Religion in South America is characterized as a continent where the majority of the population
professes the Catholic faith, with a notable increase of Protestants and people without religion.
Currently, all countries in the region in general are separate of the Catholic Church and declared
laic states, which guarantees freedom of religion for its inhabitants. The last country to approve
the freedom of religion was Bolivia (since 2008).
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Part of Religions in South America (2013):
Countries Christians
Roman
Catholics
Other
Christians
Others, no
religion (atheists
and agnostics)
and no answer
Argentina 84 % 77 % 7 % 16 %
Bolivia 93 % 76 % 17 % 7 %
Brazil 84 % 63 % 21 % 16 %
Chile 70 % 57 % 13 % 30 %
Colombia 78 % 75 % 3 % 22 %
Ecuador 93 % 81 % 12 % 7 %
Paraguay 96 % 88 % 8 % 4 %
Perú 87 % 77 % 10 % 13 %
Uruguay 49 % 41 % 8 % 51 %
Venezuela 91 % 79 % 12 % 9 %
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Food:
Long before the Spanish discovered South America, the native populations knew how to
cultivate an incredible array of plants. They developed elaborate irrigation systems, and terraced
the steep Andean mountain slopes to make them more suitable for growing food. They
acclimatized their seed to grow at high altitude and grew corn, lima beans, potatoes, sweet
potatoes, chili peppers, avocados, peanuts, chocolate, and raised llamas and guinea pigs.
Starvation was not a big worry for the Incans as they were able to get through times of food
shortages, famines and droughts relatively unharmed. This was because they were able to
preserve and store many crops and other foods. In the high elevations of South America, food
was able to be freeze dried by leaving food outside overnight in the frosty temperatures. It is
estimated that at any given time in Incan history, 3-7 years worth of food were stored in state
warehouses for times of food shortage.
Guinea Pig: Guinea Pig is a
traditional food in Peru, with
families in the countryside having
kept colonies of the little animals
in pens in their kitchens. Within
reason I like to try new food.
However, people are not enough
to attempt to eat one of these cute
little creatures. In fact neither of
them are brave enough to try it
after seeing them piled up in the
markets all cooked and
supposedly ready to eat.
So here they are piled up still with
their little heads on and their little
paws still attached.
Pisco Sour: Pisco is a grape distilled brandy. This cocktail
is refreshing and yes, one is not enough! It’s one of the most
popular drinks in Peru and Chile. However, a word of
caution: if drinking raw egg concerns you feel free to use an
egg substitute, it is not quite the same drink in the end but is
close enough to count.
Traditional Pisco Sour
Some Local Dishes of South America: South America presents travelers with an unforgettable
culinary experience. Whether you favor sit-down dinners or on-the-go treats from street vendors,
it’s a safe bet that no matter which country you visit, you’ll find something to delight your taste
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buds. These 10 dishes are some of the most popular—and delicious—ones to try throughout the
continent.
Arepas (Venezuela)
Empanadas (Argentina)
Pisco Sour (Chile, Peru)
Ceviche (Peru)
Yerba Maté (Argentina)
Pastel (Brazil)
Dulce de Leche (Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil)
Brigadeiros (Brazil)
Platanos Fritos (All of South America)
Chorizo (Argentina)
Tres-leches cake Tallarines-verdes
Tacco with beeds Fries with pork
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Economy:
South America relies less on the export of both manufactured goods and natural resources than
the world average; merchandise exports from the continent were 16% of GDP on an exchange
rate basis, compared to 25% for the world as a whole. Brazil (the seventh largest economy in the
world and the largest in South America) leads in terms of merchandise exports at $251 billion,
followed by Venezuela at $93 billion, Chile at $86 billion, and Argentina at $84 billion.
The continent experienced, since 1930, a remarkable growth and diversification in most of the
economic sectors. Most agricultural and livestock products are destined for local consumption
and for the domestic market. However, the export of agricultural products is essential for
the balance of trade in most countries.
The main agrarian crops are export crops, such as soy and wheat. The production of staple foods
such as vegetables, corn or beans is large, but focused on domestic consumption. Livestock
raising for meat exports is important in Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and Colombia. In tropical
regions the most important crops are coffee, cocoa and bananas, mainly in Brazil, Colombia and
Ecuador. Traditionally, the countries producing sugar for export are Peru, Guyana and Suriname,
and in Brazil, sugar cane is also used to make ethanol. On the coast of Peru, northeast and south
of Brazil cotton is grown. The Pacific coastal waters of South America are the most important
for commercial fishing. The capture of crustaceans is remarkable, particularly in northeastern
Brazil and Chile.
Only Brazil and Argentina are part of the G20 (industrial countries), while only Brazil is part of
the G8+5 (the most powerful and influential nations in the world). In the tourism sector, a series
of negotiations began in 2005 to promote tourism and increase air connections within the
region. Punta del Este, Florianópolis and Mar del Plata are among the most important resorts in
South America.
The most industrialized countries in South America
are Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela and Uruguay respectively. These countries
alone account for more than 75 percent of the region's economy and add up to a GDP of more
than US$3.0 trillion. Industries in South America began to take on the economies of the region
from the 1930s when the Great Depression in the United States and other countries of the world
boosted industrial production in the continent. From that period the region left the agricultural
side behind and began to achieve high rates of economic growth that remained until the early
1990s when they slowed due to political instabilities, economic crises and neoliberal policies.
Since the end of the economic crisis in Brazil and Argentina that occurred in the period from
1998 to 2002, which has led to economic recession, rising unemployment and falling population
income, the industrial and service sectors have been recovering rapidly, mainly in Chile, In
Argentina, and in Brazil, which grow at an average of 5% per year. All of South America after
this period has been recovering fast and showing good signs of economic stability, with
controlled inflation and exchange rates, continuous growth, a decrease in social inequality and
unemployment, factors that favor the industry.
The main industries are: electronics, textiles, food, automotive, metallurgy, air, naval, clothing,
beverage, steel, tobacco, timber, chemical, among others. Exports reach almost US$400 billion
annually, with Brazil accounting for half of this.
The economic gap between the rich and poor in most South American nations is larger than in
most other continents. The richest 10% receive over 40% of the nation's income in Bolivia,
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Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Paraguay, while the poorest 20% receive 3% or less in Bolivia,
Brazil, and Colombia. This wide gap can be seen in many large South American cities where
makeshift shacks and slums lie in the vicinity of skyscrapers and upper-class luxury apartments;
nearly one in nine in South America live on less than $2 per day (on a purchasing power
parity basis).
This is a list of South American nations ranked by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at Purchasing
Power Parity (PPP). Figures are given in 2016 International Dollars according to CIA World
Factbook 2016 figures.
South
American
Rank
World Rank Country
2016 GDP (PPP)
millions of International dollars
— — South America 6,432,840
1 8 Brazil 3,135,000
2 27 Argentina 879,400
3 32 Colombia 690,400
4 42 Venezuela 468,600
5 45 Chile 436,100
6 48 Peru 409,900
7 66 Ecuador 182,400
8 94 Bolivia 78,350
9 96 Uruguay 73,930
10 103 Paraguay 64,120
11 162 Suriname 8,547
12 169 Guyana 6,093
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Energy:
Due to the diversity of topography and pluviometric precipitation conditions, the region's water
resources vary enormously in different areas. In the Andes, navigation possibilities are limited,
except for the Magdalena River, Lake Titicaca and the lakes of the southern regions of Chile and
Argentina. Irrigation is an important factor for agriculture from northwestern Peru to Patagonia.
Less than 10% of the known electrical potential of the Andes had been used until the mid-1960s.
Most of the continent's energy is generated through hydroelectric power plants, but there is also
an important share of thermoelectric and wind energy. Brazil and Argentina are the only South
American countries that generate nuclear power, each with two nuclear power plants. In 1991
these countries signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement.
Atucha I Nuclear Power Plant, the first South-American nuclear power plant, in Argentina
Tourism:
Tourism has increasingly become a significant source of income for many South American
countries. Historical relics, architectural and natural wonders, a diverse range of foods and
culture, vibrant and colorful cities, and stunning landscapes attract millions of tourists every year
to South America.
Iguazu Falls
Olinda
Amazon Rain Forest
Lake Titicaca
Natal Lima
Nazaka Lines
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Gran Sabana
Patagonia
Tayrona National Natural Park
In 2016 Brazil hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Iguazu Falls on the border between Argentina and Brazil, is one of the New Seven Natural
Wonders of the World
Transports:
South American transportation systems are still deficient, with low kilometric densities. The
region has about 1,700,000 km of highways and 100,000 km of railways, which are concentrated
in the coastal strip, and the interior is still devoid of communication.
Only two railroads are continental: the Transandina, which connects Buenos Aires, in Argentina
to Valparaíso, in Chile, and the Brazil-Bolivia Railroad, which makes it the connection between
the port of Santos in Brazil and the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, in Bolivia. In addition, there
is the Pan-American Highway, which crosses the Andean countries from north to south, although
some stretches are unfinished.
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Uspallata train station, part of Transandine Railway
Two areas of greater density occur in the railway sector: the platinum network, which develops
around the Platine region, largely belonging to Argentina, with more than 45,000 km in length;
And the Southeast Brazil network, which mainly serves the state of São Paulo,
The main public transport in major cities is the bus. Many cities also have a diverse system of
metro and subway trains. The Santiago subway is the largest network in South America, with
103 km, while the São Paulo subway is the largest in transportation, with more than 4.6 million
passengers per day and was voted the best in the Americas. In Rio de Janeiro was installed the
first railroad of the continent, in 1854. Today the city has a vast and diversified system of
metropolitan trains, integrated with buses and subway. Recently it was also inaugurated in the
city a Light Rail System called VLT, a small electrical trams at low speed, while São
Paulo inaugurated its monorail, the first of South America. In Brazil, an express bus system
called Bus Rapid Transit.
Sports:
A wide range of sports are played in the continent of South America, with football being the
most popular overall, while baseball is the most popular in Venezuela.
Other sports include basketball, cycling, polo, volleyball, futsal, motorsports, rugby (mostly in
Argentina and Uruguay), handball, tennis, golf, field hockey and boxing.
South America hosted its first Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2016 and will host
the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018.
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Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the most iconic stadium of the world.
South America shares with Europe the supremacy over the sport of football as all winners
in FIFA World Cup history and all winning teams in the FIFA Club World Cup have come from
these two continents. Brazil holds the record at the FIFA World Cup with five titles in total.
Argentina and Uruguay have two titles each. So far four South American nations have hosted the
tournament including the first edition in Uruguay (1930). The other three were Brazil (1950,
2014), Chile (1962), and Argentina (1978).
South America is home to the longest running international football tournament; the Copa
América, which has been regularly contested since 1916. Uruguay have won the Copa América a
record 15 times, surpassing hosts Argentina in 2011 to reach 15 titles (they were previously
equal on 14 titles each during the 2011 Copa América).
Also, in South America, a multi-sport event, the South American Games, are held every four
years. The first edition was held in La Paz in 1978 and the most recent took place in Santiago in
2014.
Traditions & Customs:
In the Hispanic culture, they celebrate
the Quinceañera which is the
Latina coming-of-age celebration when a
girl turns 15 years old
The famous Piñata a decorated
container filled with candy and toys is
suspended in the air to be broken
by blindfolded kids with sticks
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They are used as part of Christmas and birthday celebrations in certain Latin-American
countries
Bullfighting, also known as fiesta brava, has been one of the most popular sports in the
Mexico for the last 400 years
Each year, thousands of bullfights take place
Many traditions and important stories were passed down through generations orally
Jupiter Jones said, “In the South American storytelling tradition it is said that humans
are possessed of a hearing that goes beyond the ordinary. This special form is the soul’s way
of paying attention and learning. The story makers or cantadoras of old spun tales of mystery
and symbolism in order to wake the sleeping soul. They wished to cause it to prick up its ears
and listen to the wisdom contained within the telling."
Although other cultures normally fear it, many Hispanic cultures celebrate and invite death
In Puerto Rico, children celebrate the festive Dia de los Reyes by placing hay under their
beds to feed the hungry camels of the 3 Kings
It's sort of like their version of the tooth fairy
In South America, it is apparently good luck to wear yellow underwear on New Year's
People in Cuba believe that each year they should start off with a clean slate
After cleaning their entire home, they’re supposed to take the bucket of dirty water and throw
it over the balcony at midnight to wash away any bad energy from the previous year
And tucking money around the house helps bring prosperity according to Ecuadoreanos.
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Conclusion:
During the survey of this report, we got so many new knowledge regarding South American
society. We have come to know about their life related thing. But what we like most, is their
tourism opportunity. Tourism in Latin America has increased considerably in recent years. In
2015, 96.6 million foreign tourists decided to visit the region, the highest figure in a decade.
International arrivals at South America grew 4% last year, according to the World Tourism
Organization.
