Americas
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| - | [[Image:Audubon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''The [[Bird]]s of America'' (Color lithographic plate 321) ([[1836]]) - [[John James Audubon]]]]{{Template}} | + | [[Image:Audubon.jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[The Birds of America]]'' (Color lithographic plate 321) ([[1836]]) - [[John James Audubon]]]] |
| - | '''America''' usually means either: | + | {{Template}} |
| - | The [[Americas]] are the lands and regions of the Western hemisphere, comprised of [[North America]], [[Central America]] and [[South America]] considered as a single entity. | + | |
| + | The '''Americas''', also collectively called '''America''', encompass the totality of the continents of [[North America]] and [[South America]]. Together they make up most of Earth's [[western hemisphere]] and comprise the ''[[New World]]''. | ||
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| + | Along with their [[Lists of islands of the Americas|associated islands]], they cover 8% of [[Earth]]'s total surface area and 28.4% of its land area. The topography is dominated by the [[American Cordillera]], a long chain of mountains that run the length of the west coast. The flatter eastern side of the Americas is dominated by large river basins, such as the [[Amazon river basin|Amazon]], [[St. Lawrence River]] / [[Great Lakes]] basin, [[Mississippi river basin|Mississippi]], and [[La Plata river basin|La Plata]]. Since the Americas extend 14000 km from north to south, the climate and ecology vary widely, from the arctic [[tundra]] of [[Northern Canada]], [[Greenland]], and [[Alaska]], to the [[tropical rain forest]]s in [[Central America]] and South America. | ||
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| + | Humans first [[Settlement of the Americas|settled the Americas]] from Asia between 42,000 and 17,000 years ago. A second migration of [[Na-Dene languages|Na-Dene speakers]] followed later from Asia. The subsequent migration of the [[Inuit]] into the [[neoarctic]] around 3500 BCE completed what is generally regarded as the settlement by the [[indigenous peoples of the Americas]]. | ||
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| + | The first known European settlement in the Americas was by the [[Norsemen|Norse]] explorer [[Leif Ericson]]. However the colonization never became permanent and was later abandoned. The [[voyages of Christopher Columbus]] from 1492 to 1502 resulted in permanent contact with European (and subsequently, other [[Old World]]) powers, which led to the [[Columbian exchange]]. Diseases introduced from Europe and Africa [[Population history of indigenous peoples of the Americas|devastated the indigenous peoples]], and the European powers [[European colonization of the Americas|colonized the Americas]]. Mass emigration from Europe, including large numbers of [[indentured servant]]s, and [[Atlantic slave trade|importation of African slaves]] largely replaced the indigenous peoples. | ||
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| + | [[Decolonization of the Americas]] began with the [[American Revolution]] in 1776 and [[Haitian Revolution]] in 1791. Currently, almost all of the population of the Americas resides in independent countries; however, the legacy of the colonization and settlement by Europeans is that the Americas share many common cultural traits, most notably [[Christianity]] and the use of [[Indo-European languages]]; primarily [[Spanish language in the Americas|Spanish]], [[English language|English]], [[Portuguese in the Americas|Portuguese]], [[French language|French]] and to a lesser extent, [[Dutch language|Dutch]]. | ||
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| + | The population is over 1 billion, with over 65% of them living in one of the three most populous countries (the [[United States]], [[Brazil]], and [[Mexico]]). The most populous cities are [[São Paulo]], [[Mexico City]], [[New York City]], [[Buenos Aires]] and [[Los Angeles]]. | ||
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| + | == See also == | ||
| + | * [[British North America]] | ||
| + | * [[Columbia (name)]] | ||
| + | * [[Conquistadors]] | ||
| + | * [[Ethnic groups in Central America]] | ||
| + | * [[List of former sovereign states]] | ||
| + | * [[French America]] | ||
| + | * [[La Merika]] | ||
| + | * [[List of conflicts in the Americas]] | ||
| + | * [[List of countries in the Americas by population]] | ||
| + | * [[Middle America (Americas)]] | ||
| + | * [[Monarchies in the Americas]] | ||
| + | * [[New Sweden]] | ||
| + | * [[Northern America]] | ||
| + | * [[Pan-Americanism]] | ||
| + | * [[Southern Cone]] | ||
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Revision as of 15:20, 14 July 2021
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The Americas, also collectively called America, encompass the totality of the continents of North America and South America. Together they make up most of Earth's western hemisphere and comprise the New World.
Along with their associated islands, they cover 8% of Earth's total surface area and 28.4% of its land area. The topography is dominated by the American Cordillera, a long chain of mountains that run the length of the west coast. The flatter eastern side of the Americas is dominated by large river basins, such as the Amazon, St. Lawrence River / Great Lakes basin, Mississippi, and La Plata. Since the Americas extend 14000 km from north to south, the climate and ecology vary widely, from the arctic tundra of Northern Canada, Greenland, and Alaska, to the tropical rain forests in Central America and South America.
Humans first settled the Americas from Asia between 42,000 and 17,000 years ago. A second migration of Na-Dene speakers followed later from Asia. The subsequent migration of the Inuit into the neoarctic around 3500 BCE completed what is generally regarded as the settlement by the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
The first known European settlement in the Americas was by the Norse explorer Leif Ericson. However the colonization never became permanent and was later abandoned. The voyages of Christopher Columbus from 1492 to 1502 resulted in permanent contact with European (and subsequently, other Old World) powers, which led to the Columbian exchange. Diseases introduced from Europe and Africa devastated the indigenous peoples, and the European powers colonized the Americas. Mass emigration from Europe, including large numbers of indentured servants, and importation of African slaves largely replaced the indigenous peoples.
Decolonization of the Americas began with the American Revolution in 1776 and Haitian Revolution in 1791. Currently, almost all of the population of the Americas resides in independent countries; however, the legacy of the colonization and settlement by Europeans is that the Americas share many common cultural traits, most notably Christianity and the use of Indo-European languages; primarily Spanish, English, Portuguese, French and to a lesser extent, Dutch.
The population is over 1 billion, with over 65% of them living in one of the three most populous countries (the United States, Brazil, and Mexico). The most populous cities are São Paulo, Mexico City, New York City, Buenos Aires and Los Angeles.
See also
- British North America
- Columbia (name)
- Conquistadors
- Ethnic groups in Central America
- List of former sovereign states
- French America
- La Merika
- List of conflicts in the Americas
- List of countries in the Americas by population
- Middle America (Americas)
- Monarchies in the Americas
- New Sweden
- Northern America
- Pan-Americanism
- Southern Cone
