Spanish Influence on Latin America

Lasting Impact on Latin American Culture-Language, Religion and Slavery SS6H2 The student will explain the development of Latin America and the Caribbean from European colonies to independent nations. a. Describe the influence of African slavery on the development of the Americas. b. Describe the influence of the Spanish and the Portuguese on the language and religions of Latin America.

Language and Religion The term Latin America refers to the origin of the languages of Spanish and Portuguese. These languages are spoken widely throughout Latin America as a result of European colonization of the region by these two nations.

Language and Religion There are two main languages spoken throughout Latin America Portuguese- Brazil Spanish- in most other countries

Recall Why did the Europeans explore?

Language and Religion The 3 G’s: God Gold Glory

Language and Religion After the Spanish conquered the indigenous people (Native Americans), they tried to convert them to Christianity. Just as the Catholic Church was powerful in Spain… it soon became powerful in Latin America Catholic priests set up churches, schools, hospitals and Spanish missions

Language and Religion The lasting impact of the spread of Christianity can still be found throughout Latin America today. 94% of Latin Americans are Roman Catholic.

Slavery In Latin America Shortage of Native American workers in the Americas led to beginning of the Atlantic slave trade. Farmers and plantation owners first used Native Americans to work the land; European diseases and warfare killed millions of Native Americans. Workers were still needed on sugar, tobacco, and other types of plantations which brought about the African slave trade in the Americas.

Slavery in Latin America Between the 1500s and the 1800s millions of Africans were captured, shipped across the Atlantic Ocean, and sold as slaves in the Americas.

Slavery in Latin America 10 to 20 Million Enslaved Brazil 4 - 10 million Spanish Empire 2 - 5 million Caribbean 3 – 6 million North America .5 – 1 million

Social Classes Europeans came to the New World and brought Africans there. This resulted in the blending of these three different groups of people. Native Americans Europeans Africans

100% Spanish-born in Spain, which is on the Iberian Peninsula Peninsulares 100% Spanish-born in Spain, which is on the Iberian Peninsula

People of 100% Spanish descent, but born in Latin America. Criollos People of 100% Spanish descent, but born in Latin America.

Ethnic Blending As the Europeans began moving to and colonizing the Americas, new ethnic groups began forming. Mestizos: Mixed European and Native American descent Mulattos: Mixed European and African descent

People of Native American and European descent Mestizos People of Native American and European descent

Mulattos People of African and European descent

Native Americans and Africans Native Americans and Africans were the lowest on the hierarchy and were never allowed to hold any type of power.

What do you think the order of the hierarchy would be? Social Hierarchy As the Spanish gained more control of New Spain, a hierarchy of power began to form… What do you think the order of the hierarchy would be?

Spanish Mission System The Indigenous People were forced to change to the Spanish ways of life. Language - Spanish Religion - Roman Catholicism Art Literature Other ways of life – customs, holidays, food

Spanish mission system Mission: a local church or parish dependent on a larger religious organization for direction or financial support Missions were started by the Catholic Church in order to change the way of life of the Native Americans.

Encomienda System a grant of land made by Spain to a settler or conquistador in the Americas, including the right to use Native Americans as laborers Eventually, the Spanish government took more direct control by placing a Peninsulare, or royal governor, in control New Spain (Latin America). Conquistadors were granted or claimed large areas and forced labor upon those who lived there in mines, large plantations called haciendas, and public works.

Old Haciendas in Latin America