GEOGRAPHY UNIT III

MIDDLE AMERICA

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

TEXT READING & STUDY---Geography: Realms, Regions and Concepts, 12th Edition:

1. Read pp.194-229.

2. Define the "Concepts, Ideas, and Terms", p. 196.

3. Learn the "Major Geographic Qualities of Middle America", p. 198.

4. Complete the reading and review exercises in the Study Guide, for Chapter 4.

ADDITIONAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

  1. List all the national capitals of Middle American countries.
  2. Describe the major contributions of the Mayans, Aztecs, Spanish, Africans, Catholic church, and European colonialism in shaping contemporary Middle America.
  3. Define: Central America, Latin America, Middle America, South America, NAFTA, and FTAA.
  4. Differentiate between Mainland and Rimland Middle America, Euro-African /Euro-Indian Middle America.
  5. Describe the hurricane and how it affects Middle America.
  6. Describe the geography of Mexico: physical features, population growth, economic development, resources such as oil, and illegal drugs.
  7. Describe altitudinal zonation and how it affects Middle America.
  8. Describe the politics and economies of the Greater and Lesser Antilles, pay particular attention to Cuba, Haiti, and Puerto Rico.
  9. Where does Mexico City rank in world population?
  10. Explain the "Gulf Stream".
  11. In which stage of the "Demographic Transition Model" are countries of Middle America?

MAP LOCATIONS

*Use the following locations for your map studies. The list includes selected locations from the deBlij Study Guide. You will not be responsible for other locations identified in the deBlij Study Guide.

CENTRAL AMERICA:

-Identify all countries and capitals

WEST INDIES (CARIBBEAN ISLANDS):

OTHER LOCATIONS:

Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Panama Caribbean Sea Yucatan Peninsula
Hispaniola Sierra Madre Oriental Mtns Gulf of California Sierra Madre Occidental Mtns
Panama Canal Sierra Madre Del Sur Mtns Baja California Tropic of Cancer
Acapulco Ciudad Juarez Straits of Florida Windward Passage
Cancun Tijuana Guantanamo Bay Isthmus of Tehuantepec
Yucatan Channel Florida Straits Rio Grande River Bermuda
Sonora Desert Mona Passage Bay of Campeche Guadalajara