MIDDLE AMERICA I chapter 4: 184195

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MIDDLE AMERICA I(chapter 4 184-195)
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INTRODUCTION TO MIDDLE AMERICA

• DEFINING THE REALM
• MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA, CARIBBEAN ISLANDS
• MAJOR GEOGRAPHIC QUALITIES
• FRAGMENTED - PHYSICALLY AND POLITICALLY
• DIVERSE CULTURALLY
• POVERTY IS ENDEMIC

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REGIONS OF MIDDLE AMERICA
Greater Antilles
Mexico
Lesser Antilles
Central America
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MIDDLE AMERICA
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PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

• LAND BRIDGE
• ARCHIPELAGO
• GREATER AND LESSER ANTILLES
• NATURAL HAZARDS
• EARTHQUAKES
• VOLCANOES
• HURRICANES

I wonder why?
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WORLD TECTONIC PLATES
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DISTRIBUTION OF EARTHQUAKES VOLCANOES
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WORLD HURRICANE TRACKS
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CULTURE HEARTH

• SOURCE AREAS FROM WHICH RADIATED IDEAS,
  INNOVATIONS, AND IDEOLOGIES THAT CHANGED THE
  WORLD BEYOND.

MA HEARTHS AZTECS MAYANS
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MESOAMERICA

• CULTURE HEARTHS
• MAYA CIVILIZATION
• 3000 BP
• CLASSIC PERIOD 200-900 AD
• HONDURAS, GUATEMALA, BELIZE, YUCATAN PENINSULA
• THEOCRATIC STRUCTURE
• AZTEC CIVILIZATION
• 1300 AD
• VALLEY OF MEXICO
• TENOCHTITLAN (gt100,000 PEOPLE)

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THE LEGACY OF COLONIALISM

• LAND WAS APPROPRIATED - COLONIAL COMMERCIAL
  INTERESTS
• LANDS DEVOTED TO FOOD CROPS FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION
  WERE CONVERTED TO CASH CROPPING FOR EXPORT
• LAND ALIENATION INDUCES
• FAMINE
• POVERTY
• MIGRATION
• LITTLE AGRICULTURAL DIVERSITY

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COLONIAL SPHERES
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MAINLAND/RIMLAND FRAMEWORK

• MAINLAND
• EURO-INDIAN INFLUENCE
• GREATER ISOLATION
• HACIENDA PREVAILED
• RIMLAND
• EURO-AFRICAN INFLUENCE
• HIGH ACCESSIBILITY
• PLANTATION ECONOMY

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MAINLAND RIMLAND DISTINCTION
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MAINLAND vs RIMLAND
MAINLAND
RIMLAND

• LOCATION GREATER ISOLATION GREATER ACCESSIBILITY
• CLIMATE ALTITUDINAL TROPICAL
• ZONATION
• PHYSIOGRAPHY MOUNTAINS ISLANDS
• CULTURE EURO/INDIAN AFRICAN-EUROPEAN
• RACE MESTIZO MULATTO
• LANDHOLDING
• PATTERNS HACIENDAS PLANTATION

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HACIENDA vs PLANTATION

• HACIENDA
• SPANISH INSTITUTION
• NOT EFFICIENT BUT SOCIAL PRESTIGE
• WORKERS LIVED ON THE LAND
• PLANTATION
• NORTHERN EUROPEAN ORIGINS
• EXPORT ORIENTED MONOCROPS
• IMPORTED CAPITAL AND SKILLS
• SEASONAL LABOR
• EFFICIENCY IS KEY

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AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
PLANTATION

• PRODUCTION FOR EXPORT
• SINGLE CASH CROP
• SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT
• PROFIT MOTIVE
• MARKET VULNERABILITY

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AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
PLANTATION
HACIENDA

• PRODUCTION FOR EXPORT
• SINGLE CASH CROP
• SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT
• PROFIT MOTIVE
• MARKET VULNERABILITY

• DOMESTIC MARKET
• DIVERSIFIED CROPS
• YEAR ROUND JOBS
• SMALL PLOT OF LAND
• SELF-SUFFICIENT

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AGRICULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
PLANTATION
HACIENDA

• PRODUCTION FOR EXPORT
• SINGLE CASH CROP
• SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT
• PROFIT MOTIVE
• MARKET VULNERABILITY

• DOMESTIC MARKET
• DIVERSIFIED CROPS
• YEAR ROUND JOBS
• SMALL PLOT OF LAND
• SELF-SUFFICIENT

EJIDO

• SMALL SURPLUSES
• LAND OWNERSHIP
• COMMUNAL VILLAGE
• COLLECTIVE

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MIDDLE AMERICA I(chapter 4 184-195)