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South America ranks fourth in area, after Asia, Africa and North America. It ranks fifth in population, after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America.

It is thought to have been first inhabited by humans crossing the Bering Land Bridge, now the BeringThe Bering Strait is a sea strait between Cape Dezhnev, the eastmost point of the Asian continent and Cape Prince of Wales, the westernmost point of the American continent, about 85 km in width, with a depth of 30 50 m. The strait connects the Chukchi Sea straitA strait is a narrow channel of water that connects two larger bodies of water, and thus lies between two land masses. The terms strait channel and passage can be synonymous and interchangeable, although channel has other meanings. Many straits are econom, though there are also suggestions of migration from the southern Pacific Ocean.

From the 1530sCenturies: 15th century 16th century 17th century Decades: 1480s 1490s 1500s 1510s 1520s 1530s 1540s 1550s 1560s 1570s 1580s Years: 1530 1531 1532 1533 1534 1535 1536 1537 1538 1539 Events and Trends Spanish conquest of Peru Beginning of colonization of B, the indigenous inhabitants of South America were subjugated by European invaders, first from Spain, later from Portugal, who divided it into colonies. In the course of the 19th century, these colonies won their independence.

The region of South America also includes various islands, most of which belong to countries on the continent. The Caribbean territories are grouped with North America. The South American nations that border the Caribbean Sea – including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana – are also known as Caribbean South America.

The largest country in South America by far, in both area and population, is Brazil. Regions in South America include the Andean States, the Guyana Highlands, the Southern Cone, and Eastern South America .