Chapter 1 Introducing Latin America
Overview of Systematic Chapters
Overview of Regional Chapters
Chapter 2 Changing Physical Environments
Environmental Change
A Diversity of Environments
Environmental History
Environmental Hazards
Tectonic Plates and Structural Regions
An Aerial View
Structure, Relief, and Topography
Weather and Climate
Major Climate and Vegetation Regions
Air Masses and Atmospheric Circulation
Distribution of Precipitation
Soil Types
Natural Vegetation Types
River Systems
Environmental Determinism
Scientific Expeditions
Sustainable Development
Latin America and Climate Change
Chapter 3 Cultural and Historical Geography
Introduction
Landscapes and Lifestyles at the Encounter
Civilizations
The Shaping of the Atlantic World
Impact of Encounter and Colonial Rule
The Age of Revolution
Economic Booms
Chapter 4 International Relations and Global Affairs
Boundary Disputes
Geopolitics
Relations Between Latin American States
Latin America and the United States
Impact of World War I
The Great Depression
World War II
The Cold War
ISI in the 1960s, Stagflation in the 1970s, the Lost Decade of the 1980s, and Growth in the 1990s
The End of the Cold War
Drug Wars
Chapter 5 People and Society
A Demographic Transformation
Urban Populations: Rank-Size Rule and Primacy
Population Migration
Living Standards: Quality and Inequality
Women and Society
Education in Latin America
National Identities, Ethnicity, and Race
Indigenous Issues
Summary
Chapter 6 Diversifying Economies
Introduction
Economic Policies
Sectors of the Economy
The Primary Sector
The Manufacturing Sector
The Service Sector
International Economic Groupings in Latin America
Summary
Chapter 7 The Contemporary City
Introduction
Urban Growth
Migration to the City
Life in the City
Challenges
Summary
Chapter 8 Transportation
Introduction
Premodern Transport Networks
From Rails to Highways
Transportation in a Global Economy
Latin America's Transport Futures
Chapter 9 Caribbean Contrasts
Introduction
Physical Environments and Hazards
The Contemporary Caribbean
The Greater Antilles
The Lesser Antilles
Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana (Guyane)
Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana (Guyane)
Summary
Chapter 10 Modernizing Mexico
Introduction
Two Mexicos
Physical Landscapes and Environmental Pressures
Origins of the Contemporary Landscape
Regions of Mexico
The Independent North
The Central Metropolitan Axis
The Southern Poverty Belt
Challenges to Modernity
Chapter 11 Central America
Introduction
Striving for Unity
Physical Environment
Origins of the Contemporary Landscape
The Modern ERA
Summary
Chapter 12 Andean Countries in the Tropics: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
Physical Characteristics of Northern Andean Countries
Socioeconomic Characteristics
Venezuela
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Bolivia
Chapter 13 Brazil
Introduction: Brazil in the Americas
Urban Landscapes
Geographic Inequality
Cultural Landscapes
Regional Identity
Patterns of Economic Geography
Summary
Chapter 14 Amazonia
Introduction
Physical Geography
Human Geography
History of Occupation
The Opening Up of the Region
The People of the Amazon Basin
Urban Places in Amazonia
Reforestation, Environmental Conservation, and Ecosystem Services
The Future of Amazonia
Chapter 15 The Southern Cone: Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay
Introduction
Physical Geography
Cultural Geographies
Chile
Southern Chile
Paraguay
Uruguay
Summary
GLOSSARY
FURTHER READING
PHOTO CREDITS
INDEX