South America

Aragones, Kelly Aragones, Kevin Baetiong, Kristine Caliva, Shelby Saldevar, Gervic

Latin America Consist of many nations separated into 4 subdivision of North America, Central America, Caribbean, and South America. South America being the largest.

The continents of Latin America have been home to some of the earliest civilizations of man such as the Mayan, Aztec, and the Inca Indians. Some of this early civilizations can be dated back to the 14th century. The Aztec empire was the most powerful civilizations in the Americas until its downfall from the Spanish Invasion.

Some of these tribes practiced sacrificial offerings to their Gods as to please them. These offerings maybe at times to ask for bountiful harvest or for other reasons.

These ancient civilizations built some of the greatest cities and monuments men and women have ever seen at that time and still today. How do such primitive people build such elaborate and extravagant structures such as those seen in Ancient Egypt.

The Mayan Calendar and Cuauhtemoc, the leaders of the Aztec empire during the 15th century.

Heritage
People from ancient times:
Incans
Located in the Andes of Peru around 1400,

Aztecs
During the 1200s, they gradually grew in number and military strength. They dominated until early 1500 when the Spanish conquered them.

Mayans
Existed as early as 1600 BC; they were the first to understand the advanced mathematical and astronomical concept.

Heritage
Food:
Before the Europeans discovered South America, the latter knows the cultivation of plants Includes, corn, lima beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes, chili peppers, avocados, peanuts, and chocolates

Heritage
Language:
Spanish as the predominant language Portuguese as the primary language of one nation: Brazil French: spoken in certain areas including Haiti and French Guyana Jamaican Creole Mayan Quechua (Incan language)

Heritage
Holidays:
Cinco de Mayo: a proud day for Mexicans who celebrate the victory over the French at the battle of Pueblo on May 5, 1862 Mexican Independence Day: September 16, 1810 marks when Mexican priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, called for the arrest of all Spanish settlers living in the town of Delores Puerto Rican Emancipation Day: Puerto Rico celebrates Emancipation Day on March 22nd where slaves were set free

Heritage
Art:
Indochristian Art
Spanish Franciscans, Dominicans and Augustinians in the 16th century introduced the native Indians to not only their religious beliefs, but the European arts and aesthetics

Boraque Painting
Covered by great drama, rich, deep color, and intense light and dark shadows

Muralism
An important artistic movement provided for political and cultural expression

Heritage
Clothing
Poncho: a cloak made of square or rectangle of cloth with a hole in the middle which head protrudes Sombrero: a broad-brimmed, high-crowned hat made of felt or straw Pollera: A spanish term for a big one-piece skirt Rebozo: a long flat garment used by women mostly in Mexico
Usually worn by folded or wrapped around the head and /or upper body to shade the sun

Heritage (History of Dress)

Tupinambas: wore feathered headdresses Colombian and Ecuadorian Cofns, Ecuadorian Zparos, and Ecuadorian and Peruvian Shuars and Achuars once wore bark-cloth tunics, wrap skirts or (for women) dresses tied over one shoulder. Cofn males now wear knee-length tunics of commercial cotton cloth

Heritage (History of Dress)

Inca Clothing (Noble)
Clothing was made from wool, which was very richly dyed and to which ornaments of precious stones and gold were added Wore head wraps adorned with tasseled fringe. Inca sandals were made from llama hide Women usually wore a one piece dress draped to their ankles with a jeweled at waist Clothes held together with large ornament pins Hair was not cut unless they were in mourning As an emperor, he only wears his clothes once. After he wore them, they ceremoniously burn the clothes Head wraps contain special feathers and gold fringe Decorated coat contains jewels and turquoise Shoes made from both fur and leather

Inca Clothing (Regular)

Incan Clothing (Emperor)

Heritage
Music/Dance:
Jarabe: a folk dance for couples popular in central and southern Mexico. The woman dances around the edge of the sombrero e tosses to the floor Mariachi: Mexican string orchestra composed of 3-12 performers Merengue: a couple dance originated in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, strongly influenced by Venezuelan and Afro-Cuban musical practices and by dances throughout Latin America
Consists of guitar, metal scraper, and 2 drums

Philosophy
Western philosophical tradition Strong influence of Marxist and Thomistic traditions Identity crisis

Philosophy
Pre-Columbian (before 1492): sophisticated thought systems 16th century: academic philosophy due to Catholic church influence 17th century: stagnant, medieval worldview 18th century: calm traditionalism, Jesuits tried to modernize Aristotle 19th century: political turmoil prevented academic philosophy from broadening

Philosophy
Late 19th and early 20th century: positivism became established in most countries Early 20th century: new intellectual movements began as a backlash against anti-positivism

Religion
84% of Latin America are of Roman Catholic religion
Roman Catholicism was the religion of Spanish and Portugal.

Protestant Christianity came to Latin America through British and Dutch settlers.
9% practice Protestant Christianity.

Syncretism Blending of beliefs and practices

Families
Family structure = Patriarchal Latin America has a strong sense of loyalty to family. Many people live with their extended families, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Society
Latin America society displays machismo
This is tradition of the Spanish and Portuguese of male supremacy

Women have made several advances in recent decades.

Traditions
Piata: A decorated container filled with candy and toys is suspended in the air to be broken by blindfolded kids with sticks.
Piata's are used as part of Christmas and birthday celebrations in certain Latin-American countries

Quinceaera: The Quinceaera is the Latina coming-of-age celebration on a girl's 15th birthday.
Comes from the Spanish words "quince" for 15 and "aos" for years.

Beliefs
El Chupacabra is a mythological creature whose name translated into English means the goat-sucker.
El Chupacabra made its first appearance in the farmlands of Puerto Rico where it left tons of goats dead. All of the goats had been left fully intact, but were drained of all their blood.

Sports
Soccer (futbol)

Government/Politics
During the first decade of the 21st century, South American governments have drifted to the political left without socialist leaders. Most South American countries use free market policies.

Government/Politics
Recently, new intergovermental entity has been formed
To merge the two existing customs unions: Mercosur and the Andean community Forming the new political organization, Union of South American Nations, which seeks to establish free movement of people and economic development

Literature
Encompasses the national literature of South and Central American, Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico and part of the West Indies Roots lie in European language and literary transitions combined with themes and images drawn from the physical landscape and indigenous cultures of the South American continent

Literature
Magical Realism
Introduction of supernatural or uncanny elements into otherwise realistic narrative Common feature in many Latin American writers during the late 20th century A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings

The Old Man Pelayo Elisenda Father Gonzaga The neighbor woman The spider woman

A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings: Summary & Analysis

Summary
Story of Pelayo and his wife Elisenda who find an old man with wings Who is the old man? Angel? Fake? Celebrity? To heal their sick child? Childs illness Are angels real?

Analysis
Magical realism
Folkloric storytelling

Quiz
1. Name the ancient Indian tribe that was the most powerful in Latin America before Spanish colonization 2. Name at least 2 of the 4 subdivisions of Latin America 3. What is the main religion practiced in Latin America? 4. What is the mythological creature whose name translated into English means the goat-sucker? 5. Give at least 3 types of food that Latin America has cultivated.

Quiz
6. This type of holiday is celebrated when the Mexicans celebrated victory over the French in May 5, 1862. 7. Which dance involves a woman dancing around the sombrero? 8. What is the philosophical system established in the late 19th century throughout South America? 9. The short story, A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings by Gabriel Garcia Marquez is an example of what type of literature? 10. What seeks to establish the free movement of people and economic development?