Central America South America

1
Latin America
Latin America comprises those countries of
Central America and the continent of South
America that developed from the colonies of
Spain, Portugal, and France. Because these
European powers used languages derived from
Latin, the term Latin America was devised to
designate the parts of the New World that they
colonized. The areas that are now Belize and
Guyana were colonized by the British, and the
official language of those countries is English.
Suriname was colonized by the Netherlands, and
Dutch is the official language. These countries
histories differ from those of others in the
region.

• Central America South
  America

Name two Native American cultures that were
dominant in Central America before they were
conquered by Spain.
What are the three primary cultural influences on
Brazil?
2
The Samba!
In the late 1800s, samba moved from rural to
urban areas. By the 1920s, the samba and its
accompanying music became part of annual
pre-Lenten Carnival celebrations, particularly in
Rio de Janeiro. Both the music and dance grew
increasingly popular in the 1920s and '30s until
they achieved international acclaim. Samba
musics percussion-dominated rhythms reflect
religious possession dances. The various drums,
or bateria, are considered powerful instruments
with supernatural connections to pagan gods.
Derived from traditional West African circle
dances, modern samba is an Afro-Brazilian folk
dance which originated in rural Brazil in the
19th century. Batuque, or folk samba, is highly
syncopated and is accompanied by percussion
instruments and singing in which a soloist and
chorus alternate.
World Tour Brazil
3
Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for Fifth of May) is a
national holiday in Mexico which celebrates the
Mexican Armys defeat of the invading French
forces of Emperor Napoleon III on May 5, 1862, in
the Batalla de Puebla (Battle of Puebla). The
battle was part of a French campaign to install a
European monarch, the Austrian archduke
Maximilian, as emperor of Mexico. At the time the
French army was among the best-equipped and most
highly regarded fighting forces in the world.
French troops expected to march from the port
city of Veracruz in eastern Mexico to Mexico City
with little resistance from Mexican troops.
Anticipating the attack, Mexican forces under
the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza prepared
to confront the advancing French troops at the
city of Puebla east of Mexico City. On May 5,
1862, after two hours of fierce fighting, the
vastly outnumbered but unyielding Mexican Army
prevailed and forced the French to retreat. The
triumph of Mexican courage in a nation struggling
to maintain its independence became a symbol of
Mexican unity and patriotism. Cinco de Mayo is
celebrated not just in Mexico, but also in
regions of the United States with sizeable
communities of Mexican origin, including southern
California and the Southwest. Particularly well
known is the celebration in Los Angeles,
California, on the streets outside City Hall.
Festivities often include sports events, parades,
mariachi music and dancing, picnics featuring
Mexican food, and beauty contests.
World Tour Mexico
Cinco de Mayo