1. Latin America’s Culture: Languages and Religion

2. Essential Question
How did the Spanish and Portuguese influence the languages and religions in Latin America?

3. Language Languages: Nearly all people in Latin America speak……Spanish
There are a few exception:
People in Haiti and French Guiana speak…..French
People in Brazil speak …..Portuguese
Question 1: Why do you think people in Haiti and Brazil speak the languages they do?

4. Treaty of Tordesillas

5. Green: Spanish
Blue: French
Orange: Portuguese

6. Religion Latin America’s main religion is Catholicism
Over 90% of Latin America’s people are Roman Catholic
Catholicism unifies Latin America’s beliefs.
Ex: They celebrate the same holidays.
Question 2: Why do you think Latin America’s main religion is Catholicism?

7. Portugal’s Religion
Roman Catholic 84.5%, other Christian 2.2%, other 0.3%, unknown 9%, none 3.9% (2001 census)

8. Spain’s Religion
Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%

10. Latin America’s Cultural Groups
Most Latin American Culture is a blend of the cultures of three groups:
Native Americans
Africans
Europeans
Question 3: Why do you think these are the three main cultural groups in Latin America?

11. Ethnic Groups in Latin America
European
African
Indegena (Native)
Mestizo (Native and European)
Mullato (African and European)

12. Major Ethnic Groups
Mestizos - People of mixed Native American and Spanish descent
Make up a large portion of the populations of Mexico, Central America, Chile, Paraguay.
Mestizo culture is mostly Spanish Catholic along with some Native American traditions.

14. Mulattos - Mixed African and European ancestry.
Cuban people are Mulatto

15. Indegenas – Native American ancestry.
Majority of the population in Bolivia, Peru, and Guatemala.

16. The islands of Haiti and Jamaica have people with all African decent.
Haitian Foreign Ministers 

17. Some places in Latin America have people with all European ancestry.
Ex: 75% of Costa Rica’s population is all European descent.
Question 4: What do you think caused there to be such a mixture of cultures in Latin America?

18. Diego Rivera

19. Frida Kahlo

20. Music Latin American music is lively and colorful. Samba music
From Portugal, is a mix of African and Portuguese music
Tango music
Mixture of Spanish and Cuban music
Mambo, Rumba, and Salsa
Mix of African and Spanish Music

22. Green: Spanish
Blue: French
Orange: Portuguese

23. Writing to Learn Latin America’s Language and Religion 4-5 Sentences
Look at the Maps
Which religion does most of Latin America follow? Why? (2-3 Sentences)
Which language do most Latin American countries speak? Why? (2-3 Sentences)