2. Learning Objectives
Compare and contrast two seemingly similar regions
(Latin America and Caribbean)
Understand the following concepts and models
Plantation system
“Brain drain”
Hurricanes
Remittances
Free trade zones
Offshore banking
FIGURE 5.6 Los Roques Islands
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3. Introduction
Setting the boundaries
Islands and “rimland” (coastal Belize and the Guianas)
Cultural diversity greater than Latin America
Caribbean includes 26 countries and dependent territories,
located on Caribbean Sea
Europeans, then the United States, influenced the region
Plantation agriculture is important. Tie to deforestation
High population densities, environmental problems
Economy based on tourism, offshore banking,
manufacturing, exports (e.g., flowers)
Disparities in wealth in the region
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4. Environmental Geography: Paradise Undone
Agriculture’s legacy of deforestation
Europeans cleared much of the tropical rainforest to
grow sugarcane, to produce fuel to refine sugar, to build
houses and other structures, and because it was viewed
as unproductive. Plantations usually consisted of one
cash crop which was exported.
Haiti’s forests almost gone; used for charcoal
Managing the rimland forests
Rimland: coastal zone of mainland,
from Belize to South America
Less threatened, has more forests;
supports diverse wildlife;
conservation is successful
FIGURE 5.7 European Space Agency Center,
Kourou, French Guiana
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6. Physical Geography of the Caribbean
Because the region is located at the juxtaposition of plates, many of the
islands are volcanic in orgin—high hazard potential.
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8. The Caribbean and Climate Change
Rising sea level
3 to 10 feet in this century
Bahamas most vulnerable: could lose 30 percent of
its land
Belize, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname also
affected
25 to 30 percent of people could be displaced
Increased storm intensity, including hurricanes
More variable rainfall (floods, droughts)
Loss of biodiversity in forests and coral reefs
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9. Some photos of the marine life
in the Belize Reef, one of the
most biologically diverse
marine ecosystems.
The region is also
blessed in terms of its
biogeography, making it
a sought out location for
tourism, a main
contributor to the
economy. Tourism
however is also
detrimental to the
environment.
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10. Climate Map of the Caribbean
• Most of the region is
classified as having
either a tropical wet
(Af) or tropical
savanna (Aw)
climate.
• Temperature varies
little across the
region.
• Important
differences in total
rainfall and the
timing of the dry
season distinguish
different places
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11. What are the hazards of the
Caribbean?
Dr. Chris Emrich, University of South Carolina
Please see video under the “Geography Department videos”
button.
You may need to download Quick Time first.
Length is about 5 minutes
As you watch make a list of the hazards that he discusses.
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14. Population of the Caribbean
The major population
centers are on the
islands of the Greater
Antilles. The pattern
here, as in the rest of
Latin America, is a
tendency toward greater
urbanism. The largest
city of the region is
Santo Domingo,
followed by Havana. In
comparison, the rimland
states are very lightly
settled.
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15. 87 percent of the region’s population is concentrated on the
four islands of the Greater Antilles
Largest population in Cuba; Puerto Rico has highest
population density
Demographic trends
Region is currently growing at a rate of 1.2 percent
Fertility decline
Education, urbanization, preference for smaller families
The rise of HIV/AIDS
Infection rate more than twice that of North America
More than 1 % of Caribbean population ages 15 to 49 has
HIV/AIDS; Haiti, Guyana, Belize, over 2 %
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16. European Settlement
What did the Europeans want from the Caribbean
region?
Land for plantation
But diseases wiped out native populations
Imported labor from abroad
Slaves from Africa
European countries out lawed slavery
Later on indentured servants from Asia
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18. Colonial History
Country
Independence in: From:
Haiti
1804
France
Dominican Republic
1844
UK
Cuba
1898
Spanish
Suriname
1954
Netherlands
Jamaica
1960’s
UK
Bahamas
1973
UK
Dominica
1978
UK
Belize
1981
UK
St. Kitts and Nevis
1983
UK
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19. Territories Today
British
Cayman Islands
Turks and Caicos
Anguilla
Montserrat
French
French Guiana
Martinique
Guadeloupe
Dutch
Curacao
Bonaire
St. Martin
Saba
USA
Puerto Rico
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20. Why do so many of the territories in
the Caribbean still remain part of the
colonial system?
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21. Migration
Caribbean diaspora: the economic flight of Caribbean
peoples across the globe
As a region, the Caribbean has
one of the highest negative
rates of net migration in the
world, at –3.0. That means for
every 1,000 people in the
region, 3.0 annually leave.
Pull towards the former
colonial powers
This migration pattern has
spread aspects of Caribbean
culture around the world.
FIGURE 5.12
Caribbean Diaspora
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22. Looking at it another way, notice that many countries have a negative
migration rate—people are moving out.
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23. Urban Geography
The contrast between urban and rural is not as stark
here as in other regions.
Rural activities in urban settings
Influence of plantation and subsistence farming.
Arable lands were owned by elite; small plots for subsistence
agriculture
Large urban centers were unnecessary
Houseyards – small, enclosed properties of half acre or
less
Typifies blending of rural subsistence, economic survival, and
matriarchy
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24. The look of the city
Cities were laid out on a grid like their Spanish
counterparts
Heavily fortified
Easier to control native populations
Housing
As urbanization occurred, thousands poured into the cities
Erected shantytowns; filled informal sector
Electricity pirated from power lines
In Cuba, government-built apartment blocks reflect socialism
Housing landscape homogeneity
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25. Houseyard
Features:
• Elements of subsistence
farming, animals, trees
• Extended family
residents
• Rental units (sometimes)
• Fence
• Private space in urban
area—few outsiders
• Matriarchal—women
household heads
• Many household
members work in city
and migrate for work in
tourist industry
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26. In this map of the
Kingston Jamaica,
notice that the city is
an amalgamation of
houseyards in the
interior. Most of the
city’s infrastructure is
on the harbor side
and is to service
tourism.
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29. Language is ALWAYS a clue to culture. This map shows the official language in
the area. None of these are native, all are imposed by colonialism.
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30. African
influences
At least 10 million Africans landed
in the Americas during the four
centuries in which the Atlantic slave
trade operated. Most of the slaves
came from West Africa, especially
the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and the
Bight of Biafra (now Nigeria).
Angola, in southern Africa, was also
an important source area.
Area sometimes referred to as NeoAfrica (new Africa),
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31. Creating a Neo-Africa
Maroon societies
Communities of escaped slaves (“Maroons”)
Many short-lived, but others survived and
helped African traditions and farming
practices to survive
Exist in isolated areas, e.g.,
the Bush Negroes of Suriname
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32. African religions
FIGURE 5.20
African Religious Influences
• Most strongly
associated with
northeastern Brazil
and the Caribbean
• Voodoo most widely
practiced
• Great example of
religious syncretism
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33. Creolization
Blending of African, European, Amerindian cultural
elements into a unique system
Language
Spanish (24 million)
French (8 million)
English (6 million)
Dutch (500,000)
How does this relate to the
African Diaspora?
How does this relate to
colonization?
FIGURE 5.21
Caribbean Language Map
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34. Caribbean states
The cultural diversity persists
today.
Country
Pop den.
Ethnicity
Literacy
Unemployment
Antigua &
Barbuda
338
Black, UK, Port,
Lebanese
4%
9%
Belize
28
Mestizo, Creole,
Maya, Garafunda
91%
13%
Bahamas
55
Black, White
90%
9%
Haiti
641
Black, Mulatto,
European
53%
60%
Guyana
8
East Indian, Black,
Mulatto, Amerindian,
Chinese, European
99%
12%
Jamaica
601
African, Euro., East
Indian, White,
Chinese
98%
4%
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35. Creolization and Caribbean identity
Music
Several forms emerged in the region
Reggae, calypso, merengue, rumba, zouk, Afro-Caribbean
Steel drums
Music of Bob Marley reflects Jamaica’s political situation
FIGURE 5.22 Carnival Drummer
FIGURE 5.23 Haiti’s Rara Music
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39. From fields to factories and resorts
Historically linked to world economy through agriculture
Tourism, offshore banking, assembly plants more
important now
Sugar
Crucial to the economic history of the Caribbean
Importance of sugarcane has declined somewhat
Since 1990, Cuban sugarcane harvest has declined by 50
percent
The banana wars
Major exporters are in Latin America (not Caribbean)
Several states in Lesser Antilles are dependent on banana
production
Sales depend on trade agreements and consumer whims
Experiments with other crops to reduce dependence on
bananas
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40. Remittances
Money sent by immigrants to their country of
origin.
Related to
Brain Drain
Caribbean
Diaspora
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41. Brain Drain and Remittances
Dr Jerry Mitchell, University of South Carolina
Both of these short videos are posted under the button
“Geography Department Videos”
You may need to download Quick Time for them to
play.
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42. Poverty
A discussion of poverty in the region is the subject of
your weekly topic on the discussion board.
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