Middle America

Introduction:Major Characteristics of Middle America

1. Middle America is a fragmented realm which includes the mainland and the islands in the Caribbean.
2. Middle America's mainland constitutes a crucial barrier between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
3. Middle America is a realm of intense cultural and political fragmentation.
4. Middle America's cultural geography is complex. African influences dominate the Caribbean, Spanish and Amerindian traditions survive on the mainland.
5. The realm contains the America's least-developed territories.
6. Mexico dominates this area.
7. Mexico is reforming its economy and has experienced major industrial growth. Its hopes are tied to NAFTA which may soon include Chile.

Legacy of Mesoamerica

The Maya

The Maya lived in the area that is now Mexico(Yucatan), Guatemala and Belize.The people were governed by a theocracy. There was not one empire, but several competing kingdoms, who rose and fell in power. They were culturally and technologically advanced with skilled artisans, writers, mathematicians and astronomers. Their cities were complex organisms. They were dominated by the central ceremonial plaza surrounded by by brightly colored imposing buildings The Maya civilization vanished mysteriously, maybe due to environmental depletion or a break-down of the governing hierarchy.

A Photo Album of Mayan Art and Architecture

Teotihuacan
Definitely, this complex is one of the wonders of the world. However, it was not built by the Aztecs but another advance people. It is filled with awe inspiring structures In its day it comprised an advanced culture with artisans, priests, astronomers, architects etc.

Aztecs

These people were located in highland zone of Mexico and created a large empire. They cultivated a wide variety of crops native to the Americas:corn (maize), sweet potato, tomato, squash, cacao, tobacco.

Link of Ancient Cultures of Spanish Speaking Lands (A Great Site!! Worth a Visit)

Comments on Aztec and Mayan Religions

Museo de las Culturas Prehispánicas (This is virtual museum concerning prehispanic culture in Middle America.. It is similar to visiting the museum. The description of the items are in Spanish. However, this should not be a barrier to enjoying this website.)

The Collision of Cultures

The Spanish first went to Mexico in Middle American and encountered the Aztec. The Aztec culture fell quickly at hands of Spanish (1519-1521) precipitated by a rebellion led by Cortes.The Spanish drastically changed all segments of Middle America: caused deforestation; changed irrigation system; introduced cattle and wheat; mined the area for gold and other minerals including copper and silver.

There is still a significant population of indigenous peoples in Mexico. The situation in Chiapas
represents the on-going conflict between the cultures and governments.

Indigenous Cultures in Mexico (For more information about indigenous cultures in Mexico)

Particular Contributions of the Spanish to Middle America
The following are specific contributions of the Spanish to Middle America:
hacienda
This was a direct carry-over from the Spanish. In haciendas, there was one land owner. The hacienda produced a variety of crops and generally used free labor. However, the labor, like American sharecroppers, were bound to the landowner by obligations.
plantation
Their plantation was a system that was developed by the Spanish, but also adapted by the British, French, Dutch and Americans. The plantation focused on one crop (i.e, bananas, coffee, cocoa, chicle (chewing gum), sugar, tobacco etc.) The labor and the skills were provided generally by slave labor.  However, plantations could use native labor as well, who were not slaves.  However, the majority of the blacks were imported to the Caribbean, Brazil, and other counties to work on plantations.
city structure
The Spanish transplanted their form of cities into the cities that they settled. The center of the colonial cities were dominated by a central plaza with a Ajuntamento (government hall), a church, and maybe un carcel ( jail). The streets were laid out in a grid for defense purposes and
because they enabled troops to quickly move around to suppress rebellions.
language
The Spanish language has replaced the native languages in most location throughout Middle America
religion
Most of Middle America is of the Roman Catholic faith due to the Spanish presence. There is growing Protestant movements in Mexico and other countries, but Protestants are still in the minority.

Other actors in the Americas

Although the Spanish were the major colonizers in this area, British, Dutch, French, Danish,Untied States were all involved in colonizing of some of this area.

The Caribbean
This area is one of fragmentation with numerous islands. All of which were formerly governed by a foreign power. Their economies and governments have been historically unstable. Most of the islands have extreme forms of poverty. The income of these islands derive from tourism, agriculture (i.e. Cuba-tobacco, sugar) and mining (i.e. Jamaica, leading producer of Bauxite) and sporadic areas of manufacturing (i.e. Puerto Rico)

Although colonized by the British, Spanish, French and Dutch, these were primarily plantation economies. To supply, the plantations with labor, slaves were importation. For this reason, there is a strong African influence in this areas.

Links to Selected Caribbean Countries:

A New Caribbean Nation--The Conch Republic (Is this to be taken seriously?)

Jamaica
Jamaica is part of the British Commonwealth. It relies primarily on agricultural goods, mining ( one of the largest producers of Bauxite ore) and tourism. It has a distinctive Creole culture. Of course, how can anyone think of Jamaica without thinking about Reggae music, a distinctive music that has been a major force in world music (i.e, Bob Marley, The Police etc.)

Cuba
Cuba from being a fairly prosperous nation in the 1950's is now in very dire circumstances. In the 1960's, Fidel Castro started a revolution and called upon the Soviet Union for financial support.
For a while, there was tremendous social gains and Cuba was looked upon a model for those in Middle America seeking change. In 1962, the Soviet Union placed nuclear missiles in Cuba which almost brought the world to the brink of disaster. The Soviet Union subsidized Cuba until it dissolved. Castro was left as battered icon of Communism and still is continuing his revolution. The country, without the support of the Soviet Union, has suffered tremendously. The population is starving in some instances, petroleum products are scare and political repression is on-going. Cuba economy has significantly diversified and relies on agricultural products (tobacco and sugar) and tourism. The U.S. has not significantly lifted the restrictions since Castro has come into power. Recently the Pope's visit to Cuba made the whole whole aware of the situation in this culturally rich country.

Haiti
Haiti is one of the poorest countries in this area and one of the poorest in the world. In recent years, it has undergone tremendous political change. Economically Haiti is still suffering and is being heavily subsidized by the United States and other agencies for world relief. Haiti, although it is poor is rich in culture. The art of Haiti and its unofficial national religion, Voodoo make this country one of the most interesting in the Caribbean.

Information on all of the Caribbean Islands

Focus on Counties in Middle America

Mexico

Mexico dominates Middle America with population of 98.7 million. It population has doubled since 1970 Its population is centered in the mid section of country. Mexico City is the primate city for Mexico. Seventy-one percent (71%) 71 percent of the population live in towns and cities (push and pull of cities)  Mexico has had a struggling economy over the last ten (10) years. Most recently, the United States had to give a huge loan to keep the Mexican economy afloat. Mexico repaid the loan rapidly, but is still not "back on is feet."

The culture of Mexico is a mixture of European and Amerindian culture. While in North America, the British and French and the colonizers suppressed the Native American culture. The Spanish and the Native Americans exchanged cultures (transculturation) Mexico is a country full of resources, agricultural, petroleum and natural gas, and minerals. (Why do the think the Spanish wanted to come to this area? To evangelize the heathen? Although I think that there were sincere priests and other Spanish, the conquistadors were not enlightened. Read De Las Casas, if you want to understand the situation from a primary source. .

History of Mexico (from an Anarchist perspective)

A Slightly More Orthodox Mexican History (compares time-line of Mexico to Europe)

Mexican Culture (Very interesting site from Uninversidad de Guadalajara--in English and
en español)

The Central American Republics suffer economic disparities, turbulent political situations and have been dominated by the United States after their "independence" from the Spanish, with the exception of the Belize, which was colonized by the British. These countries have the unfortunate position of being dominated by one or two crops and have had a history of military dictatorships, with the exception of Costa Rica. However, the U.S. controlled the dictators and the owners of the plantations were mostly American companies (American Fruit Company--AKA Chiquita). Whenever, the people rebelled against the companies or the dictators which were supported by the Americas, the Americans would "steam" and "correct" the situation through military force.This was called Gun Boat Diplomacy (an oxymoron) and is a term that is use whenever a foreign power interferes with the internal affairs of another country for their own self interest.. These countries were also called Banana Republics, meaning that they were dominated by one crop. The Banana Republic term usually implies a military government. After decades of fighting, this areas has stabilized, for the time being. All of the governments are democracies, but are still fighting some of the same demons as in the past.

A Brief Overview of Central American Countries

Belize was formerly a British colony, called British Honduras. Its population is transforming from Creole English-speaking to Spanish-speaking. It is producing new crops and their is an emerging eco-tourism industry. The country is also attempting to develop itself as an off-shore banking center

Honduras is democratic but the military still holds substantial power. Its economy is basically stagnant and relying on traditional mainstays of these economy ((bananas, coffee, apparel)

El Salvador is the smallest country in this area . Traditionally a coffee economy. It has been torn by civil war for over 10 years. Its biggest problems are the marginal interiors

Nicaragua is the model of a Banana Republic. It has also been torn by civil war, although it now has a young and unstable democracy. Its economic outlook tenuous.

Costa Rica is a democratic nation with a stable economy. It is often called the "Switzerland of Central America". It contains some of the last surviving rain forests in Central America, which has been and is presently being exploited. However, the government and the people are attempting to develop a eco-tourism industry, with their rain forest as their centerpiece.

Panama in the past has been dominated by Panama canal. The U.S. held rights to canal after constructed. However by 2000, it will be under the control of Panama. Their are serious questions concerning the ability of Panama to maintain canal due to its aging infrastructure. Panama is also a developing financial center for Central America.

Conclusion
The countries in Middle America are generally some of the poorest in the world. They suffer from economic disparities, unstable govemenents, and volatile economies due to lack of diversity in their exports. Mexico dominates this area and has the most robust of the economies.NAFTA promises to aid Mexico in improving its struggling economy. Mexico City is growing at a rapid rate and is predicted to be the largest city in the world in the next century. There is some glimmer of hope for this area in that most have democracies and are attempting to diversify their economies. The Caribbean countries vary in economic and political stability. Most depend upon a few crops and tourism. Although there would seem to be some movement for political and economic cooperation, there are only a few such organizations, the visible is the Organization of American States.