When examining the four IB regions the Americas seems to be the one with the most homogeneity. All countries have the same alphabet, they are all ex-colonies, they achieved independence at roughly the same time, Christianity is the prevailing religion, and they all manage a certain amount of isolation from the world’s events due to geography.
Upon closer examination, however, there is an exception to every criterion and usually there are more than two of these. Not only are these two continents (and the nearby islands) isolated geographically from the rest of the world by two oceans, but they are often isolated from one another. The Americas are defined by mountain ranges that cut across them, making travel difficult – and making transportation innovations critcially important. Today, the best way of getting from one country to the next is usually via air travel, not rail or highway. And there is little consistency in the heterogeneity of the countries. In some countries, the indigenous population is still the most populous; in others, it has been all but eradicated.
