Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic and Regional Survey, 5th Edition

by Brian W. Blouet (College of William and Mary); Olwyn M. Blouet (Virginia State Univ.)

• ISBN13: 9780471630951
• ISBN10: 0471630950
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-12-01
• Publisher: WILEY

Summary

This well-established text combines a thematic and regional look at Latin America and the Caribbean. The thematic approach surveys the physical environment, historical geography, demography, agriculture, communications, industry, urban and political aspects of Latin America. The regional approach covers chapters on Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, Andean America, Brazil, Brazilian Amazonia, and the Southern Cone. This fifth edition includes updated maps and photos, and new Interlude on Cancun and the Yucatan, and an new Interlude on "Self Help Housing".

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCING LATIN AMERICA	1	(13)
Brian W. Blouet and Olwyn M. Blouet
Overview of Systematic Chapters	7	(1)
Overview of Regional Chapters	8	(3)
Reading about Latin America	11	(1)
General Works	11	(1)
Scholarly Journals	12	(1)
Handbooks	12	(1)
Statistical Sources	12	(1)
Journalistic Sources	13	(1)
Review Questions	13	(1)
PART I SYSTEMATIC SURVEY
CHAPTER 2 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS	14	(38)
Brian W. Blouet
Introduction: Environmental Contrasts	14	(1)
Environmental History	14	(1)
Environmental Variation	15	(1)
Environmental Hazards	16	(3)
Tectonic Plates and Structural Regions	19	(7)
Major Climate and Vegetation Regions	26	(8)
Air Masses and Atmospheric Circulation	34	(4)
Distribution of Precipitation	38	(4)
Soil Types	42	(2)
Natural Vegetation Types	44	(2)
River Systems	46	(1)
Perceiving Environments and Resources	47	(2)
Sustainable Development	49	(2)
Review Questions	51	(1)
CHAPTER 3 HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY	52	(44)
Brian W. Blouet and Olwyn M. Blouet
Introduction: The Shaping of the Atlantic World	52	(2)
The Americas Before 1492: Native American Peoples and Environments	54	(11)
Centers of European Conquest and Settlement	65	(12)
Colonial Economy and Society	77	(9)
The Age of Revolution	86	(8)
Summary	94	(1)
Review Questions	94	(2)
CHAPTER 4 GLOBALIZATION AND LATIN AMERICA	96	(28)
Brian W. Blouet and Olwyn M. Blouet
Introduction	96	(1)
Development of Export Economies	96	(5)
The United States and Latin America	101	(2)
Impact of World War I	103	(1)
Between the Wars	104	(1)
Geopolitics	105	(1)
Impact of World War II	106	(3)
Government Control of Economies	109	(1)
Post—World War II	110	(2)
The Alliance for Progress	112	(1)
The 1960's	113	(1)
International Economic Groupings Within Latin America	114	(3)
The Oil Crisis of the 1970's	117	(1)
Depression in the 1980's	117	(1)
New Approaches in the 1990's	117	(2)
The Industry of Globalization—Tourism	119	(1)
The Dark Side of the Globe	120	(3)
Review Questions	123	(1)
CHAPTER 5 POPULATION: GROWTH, DISTRIBUTION, AND MIGRATION	124	(33)
Brian W. Blouet
Introduction	124	(4)
The Demographic Transition Model	128	(4)
Changing Birthrates and Death Rates—Mexico and Argentina in the Twentieth Century	132	(3)
Infant Mortality	135	(1)
Economic Development and Population Growth	135	(1)
Problems Arising from a Rapid Rate of Population Growth	136	(1)
The Changing Distribution of Population	137	(6)
Population Migration	143	(1)
Theories of Migration	144	(4)
What Motivates Migration?	148	(1)
International Migration	149	(3)
Quality of Life	152	(1)
Women in the Workforce	152	(3)
Summary	155	(1)
Demographic Source Material	156	(1)
Review Questions	156	(1)
CHAPTER 6 THE LATIN AMERICAN CITY	157	(41)
Charles S. Sargent
Introduction	157	(4)
Evolution of the Urban System	161	(2)
Zones of Urban Development	163	(15)
The Contemporary City	178	(8)
Problems, Prospects, and Primacy	186	(3)
Review Questions	189	(1)
A PLACE OF ONE'S OWN: HOUSING IN LATIN AMERICA	190	(8)
Alan G. Gilbert
Housing Programs	193	(1)
Self-help housing	194	(2)
Rental housing	196	(2)
CHAPTER 7 THE ECONOMY: GROWTH, DIVERSIFICATION, AND GLOBALIZATION	198	(28)
Alan G. Gilbert
Introduction	198	(1)
The Structure of the Latin American Economy	199	(5)
Agriculture	204	(3)
Mining	207	(5)
Manufacturing	212	(8)
Services	220	(4)
Summary	224	(1)
Review Questions	225	(1)
PART II REGIONAL SURVEY: MIDDLE AMERICA
CHAPTER 8 MEXICO	226	(37)
Peter Rees
Introduction	226	(1)
Physical Environment	227	(4)
Origins of the Contemporary Landscape	231	(6)
Regions of Mexico	237	(12)
Mexico's Challenges in the New Millennium	249	(5)
Review Questions	254	(1)
MEXICO'S YUCATÁN PENINSULA AND CANCÚN	255	(8)
Byron D. Augustin and Brian Cooper
Dinosaur Extinction: The Chicxulub Crater	255	(1)
Physical Characteristics	255	(1)
The Maya	256	(1)
Spanish Colonial Period	257	(2)
The Modern Period	259	(1)
Green Gold	259	(1)
Cancún	260	(3)
CHAPTER 9 CENTRAL AMERICA	263	(36)
Peter Rees
Introduction	263	(2)
Physical Environment	265	(5)
Origins of the Contemporary Landscape	270	(4)
The Modern Era	274	(23)
Summary	297	(1)
Review Questions	298	(1)
CHAPTER 10 THE CARIBBEAN	299	(53)
Olwyn M. Blouet
Introduction	299	(1)
The Caribbean Region	299	(16)
The Contemporary Caribbean	315	(13)
The Greater Antilles	328	(8)
The Lesser Antilles	336	(8)
Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana (Guyane)	344	(3)
Summary	347	(1)
Review Questions	348	(1)
WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN	349	(3)
Janet Henshall Momsen
PART III REGIONAL SURVEY: SOUTH AMERICA
CHAPTER 11 ANDEAN AMERICA	352	(45)
Brian W. Blouet
Introduction	352	(2)
The Andes	354	(1)
Colombia	354	(5)
Venezuela	359	(3)
Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador	362	(14)
Agriculture	376	(5)
Chile	381	(15)
Summary	396	(1)
Review Questions	396	(1)
CHAPTER 12 BRAZIL	397	(29)
C. Gary Lobb
Introduction	397	(1)
The Physical Background	397	(3)
Historical Development	400	(6)
Political Economy	406	(8)
The Agricultural Economy	414	(1)
Political and Social Geography	415	(10)
Review Questions	425	(1)
Summary	425	(1)
CHAPTER 13 BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA	426	(19)
C. Gary Lobb
Introduction	426	(1)
The Physical Setting	426	(2)
Human Ecology: The Place of Humankind in the Amazonian Biosphere	428	(3)
Recent Human Activity	431	(12)
Problems and Promise of Amazonia	443	(1)
Review Questions	444	(25)
Uruguay	469	(4)
Paraguay	473	(3)
Summary	476	(1)
Review Questions	477
CHAPTER 14 ARGENTINA, URUGUAY, AND PARAGUAY	445	(33)
Charles S. Sargent
Introduction	445	(3)
An Urban World	448	(1)
Mercosur	448	(2)
Physical Geography	450	(7)
Argentina	457	(21)
GLOSSARY	478	(11)
BIBLIOGRAPHY	489	(19)
PHOTO CREDITS	508	(3)
INDEX	511