Culture, History, and Government

Early History Most researchers believe the first

people in South America entered around 12,000 years ago.

The first settlers were hunter-gathers.

Farming began there 5,000 years ago

The Incas The Inca founded South America’s great

early civilization.

The Inca Empire stretched from Ecuador to Chile.

They built paved roads, suspension bridges, stone buildings and terraced fields.

They were taken over by Francisco Pizarro and the Spanish in the 1530”s

Colonization and Settlement The Portuguese and the Spanish both claimed control of South

America.

After peace talks Spain agree to take the west side of the continent, and the Portuguese took the east.

The Spanish settle on the west side of the continent because that is where the Inca had been

The Spanish established many land estates and forced the Indians to work them. This was the same for Portuguese

The Europeans also brought disease that leave only a fraction of the native population alive.

Question? Why did the Spanish want to colonize

the western side of South America?

What consequence/event happened because of the diseases that killed the native population?

What the Spanish take The Spanish begin latifundias which

were large estates.

They get the Guarani Indians to help them with ideas and work/labor to make the settlements grow.

Portuguese Settlements The Portuguese begin their settlements along the east

side of South America.

They begin plantations to grow brazil wood and sugarcane.

After the Indians die from disease, many plantation owners brought over enslaved Africans to work.

As Portuguese settlements move inward it lead to mineral discoveries.

Major settlements were development like Sao Paolo and Rio de Janiero because of the wealth the colony was making.

Colonial Era and Independence Most South American countries gained their

independence between 1810 and 1830.

The countries became isolated and different.

The borders of the countries followed the colonial lines.

Uruguay was formed when land between Argentina and Brazil was formally divided.

Uruguay is a buffer state.

Brazil gained its independence shortly after the Spanish colonies.

The British and Dutch Guianas only recently received their independence.

Independence did little to help South America.

Governments Today Independence did little to help South

American governments.

Most still experience revolutions.

Several countries are ruled by dictators.

The rest are considered democracies.

Economy Venezuela is a large oil producing country

because of this is belongs to a special organization.

OPEC- Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries

Argentina also relies heavy on on its natural resources what do you think they produce a lot of?

Language and People Languages in South America are

primarily determined by who settled the country. Most of the western side speaks Spanish, and Brazil speaks Portuguese.

On the border of Uruguay and Brazil, a language called Portunol is spoken. A mix of Portuguese and Spanish.

The people of very different ethnicities.

Settlement Patterns Most of South America’s population lies

on the coasts and stretches a few hundred miles inland.

Many cities are seaports and those in the west are high in a Andes.

The interior of South America is not very populated.

Religion Like most Spanish colonial areas South

America’s major religion is Rome Catholic. Portugal also pushed Catholicism on there

colonies.

However there are Hindu temples and many native religions are still practiced

Traditions Some rainforest people have little

contact with the outside world.

They raise bananas, manoic, yams, and other crops.

They hunt with bows, and dart guns.

Many are ranchers called gauchos.