<p><b><i>The useful innovations of Latin American peoples from ancient times to today.</i></b></p><p>Travel from the ancient hidden city of Machu Picchu high in the Andes, past Mayan ruins over 2,000 years old, to the bustling modern cities of Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires. Along the way, readers will learn about the vibrant cultures and innovations of Latin Americans--rodeo, carnival, chocolate, coffee, piñata, tango, and salsa, to name only a few. Many of these have become part of the daily lives of people all around the world.</p><p><b><i>Latin Americans Thought of It</i></b> features a rich array of photos along with informative text divided into sections, including:</p><ul><li>Clothing</li><li>Architecture</li><li>Communication</li><li>Arts and Crafts</li><li>Everyday Inventions</li><li>Sports. </li></ul><p>This fifth book in Annick's successful <i>We Thought of It</i> series describes the traditions and innovations that are the result of thousands of years of civilization in Latin America, across two continents and nearly 20 countries. Within the region, there are many similarities (except for Brazil, the countries are all Spanish-speaking) and also many differences: for instance, in the mountainous Andes regions, terrace farming was invented so that crops could be planted on steep hillsides, while in the marshy areas of Mexico and Bolivia raised fields called chinampas were devised so that crops could flourish in lowlands.</p>