The Cambridge encyclopedia of Latin America and the Caribbean / general editors, Simon Collier, Harold Blakemore, Thomas E. Skidmore.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Includes bibliographical references and index. Discusses the region's past and present culture, society, history, economics, and politics.

From geology and biology to cinema and the theatre, this ambitious thematic encyclopedia, unique in scope and style, provides a much needed one-volume account of all aspects of Latin America and the Caribbean. Written by some fifty recognised experts in clear and accessible language for the general reader and copiously illustrated with full colour photographs, it discusses general themes as well as the individual countries in their own right. Ranging from contemporary economic problems, such as the debts of Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, and events of international political importance, such as the revolutions in Cuba and Nicaragua, through surveys of the flora and fauna, and the emergence of first human societies to the traditions of the samba and tango, writers such as Neruda, Borges and Garcia Marquez, and the potent production of the Mexican muralists, the Encyclopedia depicts lands and peoples which have long represented a distant enigma for the outside world but can no longer remain ignored by it.

The physical environment -- Tectonic history and structure -- Climate -- Natural disasters -- Flora and fauna -- Geography -- The economy -- Agriculture -- Mining -- Industry -- Communications and transport -- Trade and tourism -- Energy -- Banking -- Inflation -- External debt -- The peoples -- Pre-Columbian settlement -- Iberian colonial settlement -- African slave migration -- Immigration since 1850 -- Latin American migration (regional and abroad) -- Contemporary size and distribution of population -- Current ethnic profiles and Amerindian survivals -- History -- America before Columbus -- First human cultures -- Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica -- Pre-Columbia South America -- The colonial period -- The Spanish conquests, 1492-1580 -- Early settlement of Brazil, 1500-1600 -- The Spanish American empire, 1580-1808 -- Colonial Brazil, 1600-1808 -- The non-Spanish Caribbean islands to 1815 -- The struggle for independence -- Spanish American independence, 1808-26 -- Brazilian independence, 1789-1840 -- Latin America since independence -- Modern Latin America: general historical trends -- Mexico -- The Central American republics -- Colombia, Venezuela and Eduador -- Peru and Bolivia -- Chile -- Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay -- Falkland Islands/Islas Malvinas -- Brazil -- Cuba and Puerto Rico -- Haiti and the Dominican Republic -- Movements for Latin American unity -- Wars in Latin America -- The non-Latin Caribbean since 1815 -- The non-Latin Caribbean islands -- Political changes in the Caribbean -- Political changes in the Caribbean -- Belize -- The Guianas -- Politics and society -- Political traditions in Latin America -- Caduillismo, coronelismo and caciqurismo -- The military in politics -- Social structure and social change in Latin America -- Social structure and social change in the Caribbean -- Political parties in Latin America -- Insurgency and terrorism -- The Church in Latin America -- Culture -- Literacy and education -- Languages -- The Spanish of Latin America -- Brazilian Portuguese -- Caribbean English -- Caribbean French -- Amerindian languages -- Literature -- Native American literature -- Spanish American literature -- Brazilian literature -- English Caribbean literature -- French Caribbean literature -- Music -- Amerindian music -- Folk and popular music -- Caribbean music -- Classical music and major composers -- The visual arts -- Pre-Columbian painting, sculpture and architecture -- Latin American painting, sculpture and architecture to 1830 -- Painting and sculpture since 1830 -- Modern architecture in Latin America -- Theatre and cinema -- Spanish American theatre -- Brazilian theatre -- Latin American cinema -- The media -- The press -- Radio and television in Latin America -- Science -- Science in Latin America.

NLJCols20082021