South Korea’s Virtual Asset User Protection Act explained
The provided text discusses the etymology of the word south, the characteristics of the Global South, and the historical development of South America and the Southern United States. It notes that in the Global South, only 5% of the population has enough food and shelter.
The etymology and definitions of south
The word south comes from the Old English suth, which derives from the Proto-Germanic *sunthaz. In the Northern Hemisphere, the direction describes the position of the sun at noon. Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic describe the direction as the right-hand side of the rising sun. This description also exists in Syriac. In the card game bridge, one player is known as South for scoring purposes. The direction is the compass point directly opposite to north.
This description also exists in the context of the Global South. The Global South refers to the socially and economically less-developed southern half of the globe. This region lacks appropriate technology and political stability. In the South, only 5% of the population has enough food and shelter. This contrasts with the Global North, where 95% of the population has enough food and shelter.
Regional characteristics and the Global South
The continent of South America includes twelve sovereign countries, such as Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, and its population was estimated at more than 434 million people during the most recent census in 2021. The geography of western South America is dominated by the Andes mountains. The eastern part contains highland regions and vast lowlands where the Amazon, Orinoco, and Parana rivers flow. The population of Brazil accounts for almost half of the continent’s people, while countries like Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, and Peru follow.
Pre-Columbian civilizations like the Inca dominated the Andes region from 1438 to 1533. The Moche culture flourished from 100 BC to 700 AD on the northern coast of Peru. Caral – Supe created one of the first cities in the world around 3500 BC. Human presence in South America dates back at least 15,000 years to when people crossed the Bering Land Bridge.
| Direction | Description |
|---|---|
| North | Opposite of south |
| South | Opposite of north |
| East | Right side of the rising sun |
| West | Left side of the rising sun |
The continent ranks fourth in area and fifth in population. The interior and the far south are sparsely populated.
The historical development of the American South
The Southern United States includes states like Alabama, Florida, and Texas. The Southern United States is historically set apart from other sections of the country by a complex of factors, including a long growing season, staple crop patterns, the plantation system, and Black agricultural labour. White domination of Black people characterized Southern politics and economics from the 17th century until after World War II. The climate allows for 200 to 290 frost-free days per year. This weather enabled the growth of crops such as tobacco, rice, sugarcane, and cotton.
The population of the South exceeded 100 million by the end of the 20th century. During the 20th century, the region saw growth in the lumber, paper, petrochemical, and aerospace industries. Manufacturing became the largest sector of the economy in most Southern states by the 21st century. Does the shift from a one-crop economy to manufacturing change the social philosophy of the region? The income in the South stood at only $372 per capita in 1929, while income outside the South was $797 per capita. In 1888, Brazil was the last country in the Western world to abolish slavery.
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