Cities of Middle America and the CaribbeanPowerPoint PresentationSlide 3Slide 4Slide 5Slide 6Middle AmericaSlide 8Slide 9The CaribbeanSlide 11Slide 12Slide 13Slide 14Mexico CitySlide 16HavanaSlide 18KingstonSlide 20Cities of Middle America and the CaribbeanChapter 3Growth and Change in Urban Societies Mexico Cityhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1280000/images/_1283311_mexico_city_bbc300.jpgMiddle America & The Caribbean•Total Population 197 Million•Percent Urban Population 71.0%•Total Urban Population 139 Million•Most Urbanized Country Cayman Islands (100%)•Least Urbanized Country Trinidad & Tobago (13.9%)• # of Cities over 1 Million 19•# of Megacities 1 (Mexico City)•Three Largest Cities Mexico City,Guadalajara, Monterrey •World Cities Mexico CityDemographics•Middle America was shaped by the Spanish•The Caribbean developed under various European powers•Middle America was the site of early Pre-Columbian city development, called Mesoamerica•Cities did not exist in Caribbean until European period•Middle American cities were located mainly inland and upland•Caribbean cities tended to be coastal portsKey Lecture ThemesMiddle America•Mayan Empire–Southern Mexico, Yucatan, Belize and Guatemala•Agriculture based on maize, squash, beans and chili peppers •Civilization peaked AD 900–Declined by time of Spanish•Monumental architecture Mayan city of Tikal Indian corn Historical Epochs•Teotihuacános–City of Teotihuacan–2,300 years old–Largest city in world by 7th century•Aztec Empire–Called Mexicas–Capital City of Tenochitlán–On Lake Texcoco–Population 250,000 +/-Teotihuancán’s Pyramid of the MoonPyramid of the Moon, TeotihuacanMural of Tenochitlan, by Diego RiveraMiddle AmericaHistorical EpochsMiddle AmericaSpanish Conquest•Search for wealth and souls•Hernán Cortés and Aztecs•Role of La Malinche and AguilarHistorical EpochsWoodcarving of Cortes & La Malinche meeting MontezumaRoutes of Spanish Ships (at a later date)Middle AmericaColonial Period•Law of the Indies•Spatial order of cities–Central plaza, surrounded by:–Cathedral or church–City hall–Government buildings–Wealthy housing•Poor live further out•Shanty townsMexico City CathedralHistorical EpochsPlaza de Armas, Mexico CityMiddle AmericaPost-Colonial Period–Early independence (1810-1825)–“Banana Republics” –Dominance of Mexico City–Impact of NAFTA•Today 2/3 employment found near US border•Role of maquiladorasBorder City, TijuanaSource: tp://www.slubice.pl/images/tijuana.The Angel of Independence and Paseo de la ReformaMexico CityHistorical EpochsPanama CanalThe CaribbeanPre-Colombian Period•No urban settlements•Few agricultural settlementsEuropean Conquest•Cities developed under various European powers–Spanish, first –British–French–NetherlandsHistorical EpochsThe CaribbeanColonial Period•Plantation system:–Sugar, tobacco, and cotton –Imported indentured laborers from Europe–Indentured laborers from Asia–Slaves from Africa•Cities were midpoints in transfer of wealth from island hinterlands to Europe and North Americahttp://www.scsonline.freeserve.co.uk/bann.jpgHistorical EpochsThe CaribbeanColonial Period (Cont.)•Coastal towns–Old colonial administrative centers–Trading centers–Still true today•Example of Georgetown, Grenada–Low rise buildings•Plantation economy failed–Stagnation to mid-20th CenturyGeorgetown, Grenadahttp://www.delphin-cruises.com/Grenada/Blick_auf_grenada-320.jpgHistorical EpochsThe CaribbeanModern Period•Tourism is helping economy–Cruises–Impact of airport•Offshore banking•Population growth and urbanization slowing•Little Industrial development–Puerto Rico exceptionHistorical EpochsThe CaribbeanModern Period•Improvements in economic development, esp.–Human Development Index (HDI)•Barbados ranks 30 out of 174 nations on HDI–Women hold higher percentage of administrative positionsBarbados http://www.businessleader.com/bl/nov98/barbados.jpgHistorical EpochsMexico City•Capital and primate city of Mexico•Pop. 20 million–2nd in the world–Growth beginning to slow•Located in the Valley of Mexico–Site of Tenochitlan, capital city of AztecsRepresentative CitiesMexico City Federal DistrictMexico City•One of world’s most polluted cities•Closed ecosystem•Lack of rivers•Importance of informal economy•Kidnapping and other crimesRepresentative CitiesHavana•Capital of Cuba•2.1 million pop.•Spanish Colonial City•Major port and strategic location•Ideal warehouse and transhipment point for SpanishRepresentative CitiesHavana•US Playground•Communist Revolution•Impact of US embargo–Living museum•Elite and middle classes left •Mansions turned over to workers and students•After revolution connected with Soviet blocOld City of Havanahttp://pobladores.lycos.es/data/pobladores.com/ro/ci/rocioo/channels/rincones_del_mundo/images/havana.jpgRepresentative CitiesKingston•Capital of Jamaica•Primate city•British colonial heritage•Importance of tourism•Housing challenge–Scheme housing–Squatters and shanty towns–Jamaican Ghetto/Tenement YardsRepresentative CitiesShantytown in KingstonKingston•Flourishing informal economy–Heritage of Slavery–44 percent of population involved–Drug trade•Community life is strongInformal market in Kingstonwww.galenfrysinger.com/kingstown.htmRepresentative