"Our nations were formed from the merging of all the races on the planet. They arrived here from everywhere, bringing their legends, their customs, their languages, their dreams." -Isabel Allende
A Continent of Diversity!
South America is a continent full of people of different racial backgrounds and ways of life! This beautiful continent is full of diversity, art, traditions, celebrations, sports and families! With a population of over 354 million people, South America's population has great variety. Within each country, there is a great mix of ethnic groups. There are also different languages that are spoken within the continent. It's different for every country. For example, in Bolivia, over half of the people are of Indian descent and are Quechua or Aymara, which are two Indian groups in South America.
In Uruguay and Argentina, most of the people's ancestors come from Europe, and in Brazil, almost half of the people there have ancestors from Africa. How did this great diversity come to be? Well, it's a result of over 500 years of immigration and changes.
Before Europeans came to South America, many natives lived all over the continent whom the Spanish called "Indians." A native people called the Inca, who lived in the Andes, were defeated by the Spanish in the 1500s. Spain took over most of South America, and that is the reason many South Americans speak Spanish to this day. Later, Portugal, another European country, took over Brazil. That is why the standard language in Brazil is Portuguese. When more and more people from these European countries began to immigrate to South America, settlers and Indians made families together, creating the term mestizo which describes people from mixed Indian and European background. in the 1500s, soon after Spain and Portugal had taken over, they began to bring over slaves from Africa. This continued over the next 300 years.
South American countries gained their independence in the 1800s. Immigration continued. Argentina became home to many European settlers. Still immigration continued for years and years. And not only from Europe either. People from India, Lebanon, China and Japan moved to South America. With all these people there, many began to start families with one another, creating multiple mixed backgrounds with all types of places the people had come from. Even today, the population of South America continues to grow and the people come from everywhere.
In Uruguay and Argentina, most of the people's ancestors come from Europe, and in Brazil, almost half of the people there have ancestors from Africa. How did this great diversity come to be? Well, it's a result of over 500 years of immigration and changes.
Before Europeans came to South America, many natives lived all over the continent whom the Spanish called "Indians." A native people called the Inca, who lived in the Andes, were defeated by the Spanish in the 1500s. Spain took over most of South America, and that is the reason many South Americans speak Spanish to this day. Later, Portugal, another European country, took over Brazil. That is why the standard language in Brazil is Portuguese. When more and more people from these European countries began to immigrate to South America, settlers and Indians made families together, creating the term mestizo which describes people from mixed Indian and European background. in the 1500s, soon after Spain and Portugal had taken over, they began to bring over slaves from Africa. This continued over the next 300 years.
South American countries gained their independence in the 1800s. Immigration continued. Argentina became home to many European settlers. Still immigration continued for years and years. And not only from Europe either. People from India, Lebanon, China and Japan moved to South America. With all these people there, many began to start families with one another, creating multiple mixed backgrounds with all types of places the people had come from. Even today, the population of South America continues to grow and the people come from everywhere.
South America Today
Performing at Carnival in Rio de Janeiro
Today, different ethnic groups make up all of the countries in South America. In Argentina, over 97% of the population is white, while 3% is Indian, Mestizo or other, in comparison to Colombia, where over 58% is Mestizo, 20% is white, 14% is mixed white and black, 4% is black, 3% is mixed black and Indian and 1% is Indian.
The large mix of cultures is celebrated each year in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It is one of the world's biggest parties; a four day long festival full with music, food, parades, dancing and stunning costumes! This celebration brings together people from all over the world. People in Rio de Janeiro prepare all year long to make the celebration perfect! There are even schools in Rio de Janeiro called Samba Schools, where organizations of people come together to spend the entire year building floats, rehearsing songs and dances. Health and education are also provided in poor neighborhoods by the schools. When it comes time for Carnival, each Samba school gets what they've been waiting for -a chance to perform!
The large mix of cultures is celebrated each year in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. It is one of the world's biggest parties; a four day long festival full with music, food, parades, dancing and stunning costumes! This celebration brings together people from all over the world. People in Rio de Janeiro prepare all year long to make the celebration perfect! There are even schools in Rio de Janeiro called Samba Schools, where organizations of people come together to spend the entire year building floats, rehearsing songs and dances. Health and education are also provided in poor neighborhoods by the schools. When it comes time for Carnival, each Samba school gets what they've been waiting for -a chance to perform!