Cultural characteristics of south America

Introduction

South America culture is the combination of almost the half of the culture of this world. This continent has its own culture that was fostered by the native people who were the original part and inhabitant of this great continent. This culture had its own tradition and heritages. Later the mainstream culture was influenced by the other cultures. Among these other cultures there were the European culture, (O'Brien, pp. 25) the African culture and recently the modern culture that has contribution mostly from the North America and also from other parts of the world.

Discussion and Analysis

South America culture is the rich total of several of the leading cultures of this world. Along with the indigenous culture that was developed during the Mayan civilization, there are the influences of the European culture that was brought by the colonizers in this continent. Moreover, South America had been almost the central position of the slave trade. As a result of the slave trade that consisted of the African people as the slaves, in South America, African culture also developed through these African people. The cultural diversity resulted in several social features also. (Dean, 54) The field of religion was also influenced and this lead to the diversity in religion in South America. (McClure, 21)

The Cultures of South America draw on diverse cultural traditions. These include the native cultures of the peoples that inhabited the continents prior to the arrival of the Europeans; European cultures, brought mainly by the Spanish, the Portuguese and the French; African cultures, whose presence derives from a long history of New World slavery; and the United States, particularly via mass culture such as cinema and TV.

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion (97%). French Guiana also has a large number of Protestants. Guyana and Suriname are exceptions, with three major religions: Christianity in general, Hinduism, and Islam. In lowland South America, as well as the Andes, animism and shamanism are common, as noted among the Urarina of Peruvian Amazonia.

Latin American music, sometimes simply called Latin music, includes the music of all countries in Latin America and comes in many varieties, from the simple, rural conjunto music of northern Mexico to the sophisticated habanera of Cuba, from the symphonies of Heitor Villa-Lobos to the simple and moving Andean flute. Music has played an important part in Latin America's turbulent recent history, for example the nueva canción movement. Latin ...