Textbook

Latin America and the Caribbean: A Systematic and Regional Survey, 6th Edition

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Latin America and the Caribbean, Sixth Edition presents a collection of geographical topics written by several contributors who are experts in their respective areas of study. The text has been extensively revised to include an entirely new chapter on the contemporary Latin American City as well as a chapter looking at the area’s evolving economies.

Designed for use in a one-semester course focusing on the geography of Latin America and the Caribbean, the content has been carefully developed to meet the needs of students studying for a specialty in this regional area. The text provides a successful blend of visual and textual elements to illuminate geographical concepts in this region.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1
INTRODUCING LATIN AMERICA
Brian W. Blouet and Olwyn M. Blouet

Political Stability
Modernizing Trends
Defining Latin America
Export Economies
Democracy and Development
Overview of Systemic Chapters
Overview of Regional Chapters
Review Questions

PART I
SYSTEMATIC SURVEY

Chapter 2
PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Brian W. Blouet

Latin America in the Global Environmental System
Environmental History
Environmental Hazards
Tectonic Plates and Structural Regions
Major Climate and Vegetation Regions
Air Masses and Atmospheric Circulation
Distribution of Precipitation
Soil Types
Natural Vegetation Types
River Systems
Environmental Determinism
Sustainable Development
Latin America and Global Warming
Review Questions

Chapter 3
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY
Brian W. Blouet, Olwyn M. Blouet and Charles S. Sargent

Introduction
1491: Early American Peoples, Economies and Societies
Farming in 1491
The Shaping of the Atlantic World
Centers of European Conquest and Settlement
Impact of Encounter and Colonial Rule
Columbian Exchange
Economy and Society
Colonial Transport Patterns
Urban Patterns
Cultural Patterns and Cultural Landscapes
The Age of Revolution: New Political Geographies
Economic Booms in the Nineteenth Century
Summary
Review Question

Chapter 4
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Brian W. Blouet and Olwyn M. Blouet

Introduction
The Origins of Boundaries and Countries
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 – Growth in the 1990s
More U.S. Interventions
The End of the Cold War
Post Nine Eleven (9/11)
Globalization
Review Questions

Chapter 5
PEOPLE AND SOCIETY
Brian W. Blouet

Introduction: Change since 1945
Population Density
Distribution
The Demographic Transition
Population Migration
Living Standards: Quality and Inequality
Women and Society
Education in Latin America
National Identities, Ethnicity and Race
Indigenous Issues
Review Questions

Chapter 6
EVOLVING ECONOMIES AND GLOBILAZTION
Brian W. Blouet

Introduction
Economic Policies
Sectors of the Economy
The Primary Sector
The Manufacturing Sector
The Service Sector
International Economic Groupings in Latin America
Summary
Review Questions

Chapter 7
THE CONTEMPORARY CITY
Alan Gilbert

Urban Growth since 1950
Migration to the City
Life in the City
Challenges
Summary
Review Questions

MODELS OF URBAN STRUCTURE
Charles S. Sargent

PART II
REGIONAL SURVEY: MIDDLE AMERICA

Chapter 8
CARIBBEAN CONTRASTS
Olwyn M. Blouet

Physical Environments and Hazards
The Making of the Island Caribbean
The Contemporary Caribbean
Economies
The Greater Antilles
The Lesser Antilles
Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana (Guyane)
Summary
Review Questions

Chapter 9
MODERNIZING MEXICO
Peter Rees

The Ties that Bind
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
Review Questions

Chapter 10
CENTRAL AMERICA: THE SEARCH FOR UNITY
Peter Rees

Introduction
Physical Environment
Origins of the Contemporary Landscape
The Modern Era
Guatemala
El Salvador
Honduras
Nicaragua
Costa Rica
Belize
Panama and the Panama Canal
Summary
Review Questions

PART III
REGIONAL SURVEY: SOUTH AMERICA

Chapter 11
ANDEAN AMERICA
Brian W. Blouet

Colombia
Venezuela
The Central Andes: Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia
The Southern Andes: Chile
Review Questions

Chapter 12
BRAZIL AND BRAZILIAN AMAZONIA
C. Gary Lobb

Introduction
The Physical Background
Historical Development
Political Economy
The Agricultural Economy
Social Geography
Regional Disparity
Political Issues
Brazilian Amazonia: The Physical Setting
Human Ecology: The Place of Humankind in the Amazonian Biosphere
Recent Human Activity
Problems and Promise of Amazonia
Review Questions

Chapter 13
ARGENTINA, URUGUAY, AND PARAGUAY
Charles S. Sargent and Brian W. Blouet

Introduction
Physical Geography
Argentina
Uruguay
Paraguay
Summary
Review Questions

GLOSSARY
FURTHER READING
PHOTO CREDITS
INDEX

New To This Edition

A new chapter on Economic Geography includes discussion of the role of globalization in broadening markets for Latin American commodities, particularly in Asia.
A new chapter, entitled The Contemporary Latin American City, describes how major cities in the region have responded to rapid urbanization and urban problems.
All the regional chapters, covering the Caribbean Contrasts, Modernizing Mexico, Central America: the Search fo Unity, Andean America, Brazil and Brazilian Amazonia, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay have been rewritten and revised to highlight political and economic changes in the regions.
New maps and photographs.

Hallmark Features

• This text provides a collection of perspective by numerous contributors yet has been crafted to read smoothly, consistently and cohesively.

• Provides a unique combination of systemic and regional approaches to study of this area.

• Covers the basic geographic concepts and explains many of the major issues which are facing this dynamic region.

• Known for its currency and clear presentation of key concepts.