5+group+1

hLocation**
 * [[file:caribbean.ppt]]

Relative- Lies between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator

Absolute- 22.5 degrees N, 75 degrees w

[]


 * Place**

Physical: Human > --Plantation America- European elite ruling class dependent on African labor
 * land feautures- Savannas and Mangroves, Antillean Mountains and Aria Zone, dry basin in western Hispaniola
 * climate- Warm year-round, Abundant rainfall (>80 inches), which determines seasons,  Dry basin in western Hispaniola,  // Inter-tropical convergency zone (ITCZ): // a circulation of air masses and winds; in this zone, converging trade winds are forced upward by equatorial warming, creating active cloud bands and precipitation; ITCZ is north in winter, south in summer, causing variations in rainfall, //Hurricanes:// storms with heavy rains and fierce winds (75mph or higher); hurricane zone lies just north of equator; better prediction technology helps prevent loss of life (evacuations); but property damage may still be great. 6 to 12 hurricanes move through the region annually
 * bodies of water- The Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. There are also smaller water bodies located within and around the region like the Gulf of Mexico, The Gulf of Paria and the Columbus Channel
 * floura / fauna- goats, crustaceans and fish, palm savannas have fertile grasslands, mahogony forests, sugar cane
 * people- Asian Immigration: most Asian immigrants to the Caribbean came as //indentured laborers: //workers contracted to work on estates for a set period of time
 * transportation-
 * communication-
 * culture- European colonies destroyed indigenous society and imposed different cultural, //Creolization:// the blending of African, European, and even some Amerindian cultural elements into the unique sociocultural systems found in the Caribbean
 * language- European languages (Spanish, French, English, Dutch) dominate
 * religion- African religions; linked to maroon societies, but evolved into unique forms with ties to West Africa; examples: Voodoo (Vodoun) in Haiti Santeria in Cuba, Obeah in Jamaica
 * buildings / landmarks- rural homes - small, enclosed properties of half acre or less . Foreign companies invited to build factories in the Caribbean, -- to continue Urbanization, "shanty towns", were erected, and filled the informal sector
 * cities- Generally high population densities. 85% of Caribbean’s people live on the Greater Antilles . Puerto Rico has highest population density. Mainland Belize and Guianas more lightly populated. *rural-to-urban migration, 60% urban
 * demographic trends- growing rate 1.3%, fertility decline, HIV/AIDS increase - More than 2% of the Caribbean population between ages 15 and 49 has HIV/AIDS. population is comprised of people descended from Africa, Asia, and Europe

> --  More than 2% of the Caribbean population between ages 15 and 49 has HIV/AIDS > --Carribean music includes, reggae, calypso, merengue, zouk and scores of musical forms
 * languages - Spanish (24 million), French (8 million), English (6 million), Dutch (500,000)

-People: Enslaved Africans, High Mortailty rates, Fertility decline, natural population increase, Emigration, Caribbean citites, Circular migration, Chain migraion, rural-urban continum, Caribbean cities
 * Movement**

-Goods: export of flowers, export of sugar cane, export of bananas

-Ideas: drug treatments(HIV/AIDS), Mechaniztion of agriculure, Houseyards(small dwellings), Structure of caribbean communities, african religions, fertility decline, languages

Change** Region: Physical- Economy-
 * Interaction between Humans & The Environment
 * Forests were cut down for agriculture (grow sugar cane), need for fuel and lumber
 * Coastal mangrove swamps cleared for tourist's beach creation
 * The regin contains the Rimland, Greater Antilles, and the lesser antilles.
 * the rimland contains belize, guyana, suriname, and french guiana.
 * the greater antilles are four large islands of cuba, jamaica, hispaniola which is haitia and the domincan republic, puerto rico.
 * the lesser antilles are double arc of smaller islands from virgin islands in trinidad.
 * The caribean sea embodies the caribean and the mainland of central and south america
 * economy is sustained by its proximity to north america. ensures economic dependency
 * in the late eighteenth century, the plantation economy of haitia made lots of wealth for europeans who used slave labor . led to the first sucessful slave revolt
 * had limited economic oppurtunities.
 * failures in urban infrastructure was sobad that only half of haitias urban populations has access to improved water sources