Central American Geography - UNIT 1

1-Countries and capitals of Central America  W1

2-Key geographic features in Central America (volcanoes, rivers, lakes, oceans, archeological sites)  W1

3-The 22 Departments of Guatemala W2 

4-Political, physical, vegetation, and resource maps  W2

5-Natural disasters (hurricanes, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, etc.) in Central America and their impact on development W3

6-The Four Towns of Guatemala (Los cuatro pueblos): History, food, and dress of the main ethnic groups in Guatemala  Garifuna  Maya  Ladino  Xinka W3

The Pre-Columbian Era (2,000 BC to 1500 AD) and the Ancient Mayan Civilization - UNIT 2

7-Human and physical geography (modification of environment, tropical forests, caves, Chichen Itza)  W4

8-From hunters and gatherers to an agricultural society W4

9-Maya palaces, ceremonial spaces, stepped pyramids W5

10-Characteristics of civilizations (religion, job specialization, cities, government, language and writing systems, technology and social hierarchy)  W5

11-The development of independent city-states  W6

12-Economic features  W6

13-Contact with other Mesoamerican cultures W6 

14-Contributions: mathematics (zero), astronomy (calendar), science, arts (Stela)  W7

15-Possible cause of decline around 900 AD from drought induced famine W7

16- GENERAL REVIEW W8

The conquest of Central America

(1500s-early 1700s)

1-Role of Pedro de Alvarado in the conquest of Central America W1

2- Alvarado’s alliance with the Kachiquel against the K’iche’,

followed by deception and deceit W1 

3- Spanish warfare weapons (crossbows, firearms, war

horses, war dogs, steel swords) vs. Indigenous (bows and

arrows, no steel or iron, cotton as armor) W2

4- Impact of disease brought by the Spanish (Smallpox, measles,

influenza, typhus, yellow fever) on the native populations W2

Colonial Era of Central America for 200 years

5- Spanish introduction of Catholicism as vehicle for cultural change W3

6- Introduction of European technology (steel and iron tools)

and livestock (cattle, pigs, chickens in place of natural game) W3

7. Sociopolitical infrastructure: Spanish in positions of government. Class system based on race (Mayans, artisans, ladinos, European ancestry) W4

8- Agriculture: Sugarcane and coffee plantations that exploited the natives W4

9- Trade between Latin Americancolonies and Spain: chocolate,

cotton, silver, tobacco, vanilla, cattle hides (to Spain), books,

olive oil, silk, furniture, clothing, seeds (to Latin America) W5

10- Death of 70% of the indigenous population in Central America by the time of Independence from disease and war W6

Reflection on the Conquest and

Colonial Era:

11- What cultural influences from Spain are still evident in

Guatemala? W7

o Language

o Food

o Music

o Religions

o Architecture

12- GENERAL REVIEW W8

1- Impact of revolution in Spain on ability to claim Central American independence W1

2- Role of the Central American CRIOLLOS W1

3- Impact of Mexico declaring independence on the rest of Central America W2

4-Formation of the United Provinces of Central America in 1823 with the states of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica W2

                 *Characteristics of Liberal and Conservative government

5- Guatemalan independence in 1847 and formed as “la República de Guatemala” W3

6- Reflection: Why didn’t the United Provinces of Central America work? W3 

Post-Independence: 1840s-1940s 

7- Regime of dictator Rafael Carrera for over 20 years W4

8-Conservative government for 30 years. W4

9-Parties who benefited from independence: Spanish landowners, Creoles, mixed Spanish and Mayan heritage.W4

10-Life for the Mayans W5

11-Social impact of independence: population increase, creation of middle and high classes, formation of the ladino group, immigration to Guatemala from Europe, less Spanish influence and more power by the Catholic Church W5

12- Liberal Reforms after 1871 by Justo Rufino Barrios (improvement of trade, introduced new crops and manufacturing, redistributed indigenous land to his allies and German farmers, created the railroad, public school system, and national bank) W5

Economic Production in the 20th and 21st centuries 

13- Impact of Justo Rufino Barrios' reforms on economic production and land distribution. W6

14-Plantations: coffee, sugar, bananas, power system of foreign investors W6

15-Land structure: differences between ownership and those working W7

16-Industries and artisans: textiles, ceramics, tobacco W7

17-Influence of plantations and industries on daily life and social structure W7

18- GENERAL REVIEW W8

1944-1954: Revolution of 1944 & Guatemalan Spring

1- Causes of uprising: founding of liberal movements, history of authoritative rulers, strong labor laws, exportation of agricultural products, lands stolen from indigenous populations W1

2- Reforms: Democratic government, literacy campaigns, free election processes, free press, vote for women, restructuring of land ownership W1

3- Defeat of Democracy W2

4- Democracy vs. dictatorship W2

5- Key Figures: Jorge Ubico, Jacobo Árbenz, Juan José Arévalo, Carlos Castillo W3

Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996)

6- Causes: Inequality, violation of social liberties and rights, unstable political situation W3

7- Groups involved: the Military Dictatorship Government and the

Guerilla Revolutionaries mostly of Mayan insurgents W4

8- Main changes from Guatemalan Spring: No voting rights for illiterates, canceled new agrarian reform law which forced people to give up new lands, arrested people suspected of having different political beliefs. Large gap between the rich and poor in the country. W4

9- Violation of human rights: Massacred indigenous populations, tortured and mutilated people, ruled by terror W5

10- The significance of peace accords/treaties of Central America

(Esquipulas Nicaraguan Peace Agreements I & II) W5

11- Key Figures: Colonel Carlos Castillos Armas, President Jacobo Arbenz, Álvaro Arzú

Post-Conflict: 1996-Present

12- Changes in Guatemalan government before, during and after the civil war W6

13- What is life like after the civil war?  W7

(More democracy, protection of human and indigenous rights,

problems of corruption and violent crimes, strong political divisions among the people of Guatemala)

14- GENERAL REVIEW W8