The Cultures of The Cultures of South AmericaSouth America

The People of South The People of South AmericaAmerica

Most Most South AmericansSouth Americans today are descended today are descended from Native Americans, from Native Americans, Africans, or Africans, or EuropeansEuropeans..

Those that are a mixture Those that are a mixture of European and of European and American Indian are American Indian are called called mestizosmestizos..

Those that are a mixture Those that are a mixture of African and European of African and European are called are called mulattosmulattos..

South America was South America was mostly colonized by mostly colonized by Spain, so most people Spain, so most people speak speak SpanishSpanish and are and are Catholic.Catholic.

Regions within South Regions within South AmericaAmerica There are There are fourfour cultural cultural

regions in South America. regions in South America. Each of these regions shares Each of these regions shares

certain characteristics based certain characteristics based on terrain, climate, and on terrain, climate, and resources.resources.

The first region includes The first region includes Venezuela, Guyana, Venezuela, Guyana, SurinameSuriname, and French , and French Guiana.Guiana.

Each of these countries Each of these countries border the border the CaribbeanCaribbean sea, sea, so we call them the so we call them the Caribbean countries.Caribbean countries.

Because they are on the Because they are on the coast coast line, many of these line, many of these countries have a culture countries have a culture similar to the Caribbean similar to the Caribbean islands. islands.

Other Regions in South Other Regions in South AmericaAmerica

Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador are Colombia and Ecuador are known as known as AndeanAndean countries. countries.

These areas have many These areas have many Native Americans that live Native Americans that live high in the high in the AndesAndes mountains.mountains.

In Bolivia there are more In Bolivia there are more indigenous people than indigenous people than mestizos.mestizos.

Some of these native Some of these native peoples speak their own peoples speak their own unique unique languagelanguage..

More RegionsMore Regions The third cultural region, known as the The third cultural region, known as the

Atlantic countries consists of Atlantic countries consists of ParaguayParaguay, , Argentina, and Uruguay.Argentina, and Uruguay.

Most people in Chile are Most people in Chile are mestizosmestizos, , while in Argentina and Uruguay they while in Argentina and Uruguay they have a more have a more diversediverse population. population.

One culture that exists in Argentina’s One culture that exists in Argentina’s Pampas, or plains, are known as Pampas, or plains, are known as guachosguachos or cowhands that herd cattle. or cowhands that herd cattle.

About 85% of Argentina’s people are of About 85% of Argentina’s people are of EuropeanEuropean ancestry. ancestry.

A large number of A large number of immigrantsimmigrants from from Spain and Italy came to Argentina in the Spain and Italy came to Argentina in the 1800’s.1800’s.

The arrival of these immigrants greatly The arrival of these immigrants greatly influenced Argentina’s society and influenced Argentina’s society and cultureculture..

The official The official languagelanguage of Argentina is of Argentina is Spanish, although the language includes Spanish, although the language includes many many ItalianItalian words. words.

The Largest RegionThe Largest Region BrazilBrazil is South America’s largest is South America’s largest

country and fourth region.country and fourth region. Brazil’s culture is largely Brazil’s culture is largely

PortuguesePortuguese. . The Portuguese were the first and The Portuguese were the first and

largest largest EuropeanEuropean group to group to colonize Brazil.colonize Brazil.

Brazilians are of European, Brazilians are of European, African, Native American, Asian, African, Native American, Asian, or mixed or mixed ancestryancestry..

Almost all of them Almost all of them speakspeak a a Brazilian form of Portuguese, Brazilian form of Portuguese, which includes many words from which includes many words from Native American and African Native American and African languageslanguages..

Rural and Urban LifeRural and Urban Life Outside of Chile, Argentina, Outside of Chile, Argentina,

and Uruguay, most rural and Uruguay, most rural people practice people practice subsistencesubsistence farming. farming.

Subsistence farmers only Subsistence farmers only grow enough food to grow enough food to feedfeed their families. their families.

Very large farms in other Very large farms in other areas grow coffee, sugar, areas grow coffee, sugar, and cocoa to and cocoa to exportexport to to other countries.other countries.

Export farming uses so Export farming uses so much land for cash crops much land for cash crops that the people must that the people must importimport food to eat. food to eat.

To To import import means to buy means to buy from another country.from another country.

Urban IssuesUrban Issues Just like in other Just like in other

regions of Latin regions of Latin America, the America, the populationpopulation of South of South America is rapidly America is rapidly growinggrowing..

This rapid growth This rapid growth makes it hard to find makes it hard to find jobsjobs in rural areas. in rural areas.

Every day, thousands Every day, thousands of rural South of rural South Americans move to Americans move to the the citycity to look for to look for work.work.

Cultural Contributions

The Incas provided advances in architecture and established economic networks

The Europeans Explorers brought settlers, government and economics, and religion to South America.

The African Slaves brought economic contributions because they provided more for the work force, and they also brought the arts to South America.