| A | B |
|---|
| Andes Mountains | In South America, part of a chain of mountain ranges that run through the western portion of North, Central and South America. Also known as the Rockies in the United States. |
| Llanos (LAH nohs) | grassy, treeless areas used for livestock grazing and farming in Columbia and Venezuela. |
| cerrado (seh RAH doh) | in Brazil, savannas with flat terrain and moderate rainfall that make them suitable for farming. much is undeveloped |
| pampas (PAHM puhs) | a word for plains, areas of grasslands and rich soil. Term is used in Argentina and Uruguay, Main product is cattle and wheat grain. |
| Orinoco River | northernmost river system in South America. Mainly in Venezuela. Flows more than 1,500 miles to the Atlantic. |
| Amazon River | river system in the north of South America. flows about 4,000 miles from west to east emptying in the Atlantic Ocean. Starts in the Andes Mountains. fed by over 1,000 tributaries. Carries more water to the ocean than any other river in the world. |
| Parana River | river system in the south of South America. originates in the highlands of southern Brazil. Travels about 3,000 miles south and west through Paraguay and Argentina. |
| Rain forest | dense areas made up of different species of trees. Form a unique ecosystem. Climate is hot and rainy year round. The largest is in the Amazon. |
| slash-and-burn | used to clear fields. Involves cutting trees, brush, and grasses and them buring the debris to clear the field. |
| terraced farming | ancient technique for growing crops on hillsides or mountain slopes. Cut step like horizontal fields into hillsides and slopes which allow steep land to be cultivated for crops. Technique reduces erosion. |
| push factors | things that cause people to leave rural areas. Include poor medical care, poor education, low-paying jobs, and ownership of the land by a few rich people. |
| pull factors | things that encourage people to cities. They include higher paying jobs, better schools, and better medical care. |
| infrastructure | facilities to handle population such as sewers, transportation, electricity, and housing |
| Spanish conquest | Occurred in 1519 when Hernando Cortes landed in Mexico and beat the Aztecs. |
| Tenochtitlan: (teh NOH tee TLAHN) | Aztec city where Hernando Cortes conquered the Aztecs in the Spanish conquest. Today it is the site of Mexico City. |
| Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) | Political party that started in 1929. Helped to introduce democracy and maintain political stability for much of the 20th century. Had policy of redistributing land to the peasants. |
| mestizo | people of mixed Spanish and Native American heritage. |
| maquiladoras | factories in Mexico that assemble imported materials into finished products that are then exported, mostly to the US. |
| NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) | created a huge zone of cooperation on trade and economic issues between Mexico, US and Canada. |
| cultural hearth | is a place from which important ideas spread |
| United Providences of Central America | Central America declared its independence from Mexico and took on the name… |
| Panama Canal | cuts through the land bridge and connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. A crossroads of world trade. |
| calypso | began in Trinidad. Combines musical elements from Africa, Spain and the Caribbean. Accompanied by steel drums and guitars and they have improvised lyrics. |
| reggae | developed in Jamaica in the 1960s. Most songs deal with social problems and religion. African, American and Caribbean music all feed into the roots of the music. Bob Marley was a pioneer. |
| informal economy | takes place outside of official channels, without benefits or protection for workers. Include jobs such as street vending, shining shoes, and a variety of other activities and series that provide people with a small income. |
| Inca | descends of people who came across a land bridge from Siberia to Alaska and eventually crossed the Isthmus of Panama into South America. |
| Quechua (KEHCH wuh) | language of the Inca |
| Mercosur | an economic common market that began operating in the southern cone of South America in 1995 |
| Treaty of Tordesillas (TAWR duh SEE yuhs) | made in 1494. Divided South America between Spain and Portugal. Portugal got right side including Brazil and Spain got left side |
| Carnival | people dress in costume and ride in floats through the streets. Similar to the US Mardi Gras. |
| samba | Brazilian dance with African influences |
| capoeira | a martial art and dance that developed in Brazil. |
