Page 29 - Key to Social Studies 6
P. 29
Let’s Observe Let’s Connect
Prominent Features in South America South America before vs. after European Colonization
The Brazilian Jungles South America before European Colonization
The Brazilian jungles are known to South America was the home of many civilizations before it was discovered by the Europeans, and some
have a huge variety of plants and of these civilizations can still be traced to date. For example, Norte Chico, Cañari, and Muisca are
animals that cannot be found civilizations that lived on agriculture, hunting, and also gold extraction.
anywhere else, for which it is It is known that settlers of South America were travelers from Eastern Asia who used the Bering Land
considered to have the greatest Bridge and traveled to North America and then moved south.
biodiversity in the world. South America after European Colonization
Brazil has almost 60% of the In 1494, both Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Tordesillas, giving them the right to take
Amazon Rainforest, which o ers it a possession and control of newly discovered lands. In addition, the Europeans mistreated the natives
diverse ecosystem. and imposed their beliefs and cultures on the whole continent.
Brazil’s jungles have 1,622 di erent
bird species, 70 of which are just Old illustration of Native Americans and Europeans
Jungle view from Serra dos Órgãos National Park,
parrots. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Patagonia Desert
The Patagonian Desert is Argentina’s
largest desert extending to around
673,000 km . It is surrounded by the
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Andes Mountains to the west and
the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
A small part of the desert stretches
into parts of Chile.
Desert Patagonia, Argentina
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