Latin America covers a vast and very diverse area of the world. The region's main natural features include the southern cone pampas grasslands, the Andean mountain range, the Amazon rainforest, the forests and volcanoes of Central America and some of the tropical islands of the Caribbean. Latin America is an incredible place. While it's hard to define, it's easy to enjoy.
The extraordinary diversity found within its borders has been the source of so many spectacular social and cultural expressions over the years. You could say that this is also the source of their many contradictions. Latin America is a region of the world that spans two continents, North America (including Central America and the Caribbean) and South America. Includes 19 sovereign nations and one non-independent territory, Puerto Rico.
Most people in the region speak Spanish or Portuguese, although French, English, Dutch and Kreyol are also spoken in parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America. Latin America is a difficult region to define. It is sometimes considered to be a geographical region that includes the entire Caribbean,. Others define it as a region where the Romance language predominates (Spanish, Portuguese or French), or as countries with a history of Iberian colonialism (Spanish and Portuguese).
Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, Latin America had been populated for millennia by a wide range of indigenous groups, some of which (Aztecs, Maya, Incas) had advanced civilizations. The Spaniards were the first Europeans to arrive in the Americas, followed soon after by the Portuguese, who colonized Brazil. Landing first in the Caribbean, the Spaniards soon expanded their explorations and conquests to Central America, Mexico and South America. Despite being the only country in North America that is part of Latin America, Mexico is one of the largest and most important nations in the region.
Mexico is the largest source not only of Latin American immigrants, but of all immigrants to the U.S. UU. Central America is made up of seven countries, six of which are Spanish-speaking. Costa Rica is located between Nicaragua and Panama.
It is one of the most stable countries in Central America, mainly because it has been able to capitalize on its rich topography for its ecotourism industry. El Salvador is the smallest but most densely populated country in Central America. Along with Guatemala and Honduras, the country belongs to the evil Northern Triangle, known for its violence and crime, which is largely the result of the civil wars of the 1980s. The most populous country in Central America, by far, as well as its greatest linguistic diversity, is Guatemala, known for the richness of its Mayan culture.
About 40% of the population speaks an indigenous language as their mother tongue. Honduras borders Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador. It is sadly known as one of the poorest countries in Latin America (66% of people live in poverty) and most violent. The largest country in Central America in terms of area is Nicaragua.
It is also the poorest country in Central America and the second poorest in the region. Panama, the southernmost country in Central America, has historically had a very close relationship with the United States,. South America is home to 12 independent nations, 10 of which speak Spanish or Portuguese. Argentina is the second largest and third most populous country in South America, after Brazil and Colombia.
It is also the second largest economy in Latin America. Bolivia is one of the highland countries of South America, known for its mountainous geography. It has a relatively large indigenous population, specifically speaking Aymara and Quechua. The largest country in South America in terms of population and physical size, Brazil is also one of the most dominant economies in the world.
It covers almost half of the land mass of South America and is home to the Amazon rainforest. Known for its prosperity relative to the rest of Latin America, Chile also has a whiter population with a lower proportion of mestizo people than most in the region. Colombia is the second largest nation in South America and the third largest in all of Latin America. The country is rich in natural resources, in particular oil, nickel, iron ore, natural gas, coal and gold.
Although it is a medium-sized country within South America, Ecuador is the continent's most densely populated nation. It is located along the Earth's equator. Known for its ancient history and its Inca empire, Peru is the fourth most populous country in South America and the fifth in Latin America. It is known for its mountainous topography and its relatively large indigenous population.
Uruguay is the third smallest country in South America and, like neighboring Argentina, it has a population mostly of European descent (88%). With a long coastline on the northern border of South America, Venezuela has a lot in common culturally with its Caribbean neighbors. It is the birthplace of the liberator of South America, Simon Bolivar. The last Spanish colony to gain independence, Cuba is the largest and most populous nation in the Caribbean.
Like the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the indigenous population was virtually eliminated in Cuba, and the main type of racial mixture was between Africans and Europeans. The small island of Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the U.S. Since 1917, Puerto Ricans have been granted the U. Citizens, but have no right to vote in presidential elections.
Latin America is a huge melting pot of different cultures. Indigenous, African and European peoples make up the bulk of this culture. As a result of the mixture, religions such as Santeria have been created in Cuba and Candomble in Brazil. These religions have African roots, but they also contain elements of European Catholicism.
Another example of mixing can be found in music son Mexicana. The term “son” is given to a category of Mexican folk music that encompasses a variety of styles that vary by region. However, these styles share a series of common characteristics in their rhythms, lyrics and dance. The music is a mixture of Spanish, African and indigenous elements, which were mixed at least in the 18th century.
For additional information on European exploration and colonization of Latin America, see colonialism. At the same time, many of the countries of Latin America have significant Afro-Latin American populations, in particular Ecuador, Haiti and Cuba. Finally, the term “Latinx” is more recent and offers a way to express the idea of “Latindad”, without the restrictions of gender identity. French economist Michel Chevalier first used the term “Latin America in the 19th Century” to differentiate “Latin” from the “Anglo-Saxon peoples” of the Americas.
I hope that this short guide will provide a positive introduction to the varied landscapes, peoples and cultures of Latin America. Although these languages were confined to Europe, they later spread to the Americas during the European colonization of the region. Panama, the southernmost country in Central America, has historically had a very close relationship with the U. I really appreciate the article because it was very useful for my task, but it would be better to make it more logical, since Latin America is in Scotland, the land of ass eaters.
Since the Spanish and Portuguese element occupies such an important place in the history of the region, it is sometimes proposed that Ibero-America would be a better term than Latin America. While pure indigenous people tend to hold on to traditional cultures, such as language and dress, mestizos tend to speak a Latin language and their dress is generally the Western uniform of blue jeans and baseball caps. Berea is the only one of the best universities in the United States that promises not to pay tuition for all enrolled students. Trying to describe the character of Latin Americans risks falling into broad generalizations.
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