Charles J. Shields

Argentina, located in the southern part of South America, is the world's eighth-largest country. It is home to some of the world's tallest mountains, along with tumbling waterfalls, enormous grassland plains, and wide deserts. In the first half of the 20th century, Argentina was one of the most prosperous countries in the Southern Hemisphere. However, in recent decades Argentina's economy has been troubled by inflation and debt, and this has resulted...

El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. The country has had many problems since gaining independence from Spain in 1821. Political unrest and coup d'é·tat were common, and a violent civil war that raged from 1980 until 1992 resulted in more than 75,000 deaths and 1 million Salvadorans displaced from their homes. The turmoil in El Salvador is not only political: the country is located in an area known as...

Brazil is the largest country in South America, covering nearly half of the continent. With more than 200 million people, it is the fifth-most populous country in the world. The culture of Brazil is a fascinating blend of Native American, Portuguese, African, Japanese, and other influences. Over the past five decades, there have been many changes in Brazils society and economy. Schools and hospitals have become more available, highways have been built...

Central America is the name given to the southern part of the isthmus that separates North America and South America. This position has given it an important strategic role in international affairs. Amerindians once dominated this region, with the Mayan civilization in particular exerting a strong influence. In the 16th century, Europeans arrived in Central America; they conquered the natives and established colonies throughout the region. Today,...

This narrow strip of land - only 30 miles (48 km) wide at its narrowest point, and rarely wider than 75 miles (121 km) at any spot - contains one of the world's great engineering marvels: the Panama Canal, known to the world as "the path between the seas." Fees paid by the ships that pass through the canal make up a large part of Panama's economy. Panama's government has historically been democratic, holding fair elections for leaders, although corruption...

Nearly 500 years ago the representatives of two great, but very different, civilizations clashed in the Andes Mountains of modern-day Peru. The Incas who lived in the region had established a highly advanced civilization and built great cities and temples of stone. From Europe, Spanish soldiers led by the conquistador Francisco Pizarro came seeking the Incas' gold. In the five centuries since then, the blend of Spanish and Amerindian cultures has...

Honduras is located in the heart of Central America. It is bordered to the south by Nicaragua and El Salvador, and to the west by Guatemala. Once a center for the Mayan civilization, Honduras was colonized by Spain during the 16th century. Three centuries of colonial rule produced a civilization that blended Spanish and native customs and culture. Since gaining independence from Spain in 1821, Honduras has experienced a great deal of political instability,...