Download Change and Continuity Over Time Essay

Change and Continuity Over Time Essay
Topic: Continuities and Changes in Religious Beliefs and Practices in Latin America and the Caribbean from 1450 to the Present
Beginning
-Polytheistic societies which believed
in deities that played large roles in
nature.
-The Inca had an animistic religion in
which they believed that supernatural
spirits were present in all aspects of
the natural world.
-The Aztec and Maya, too had
polytheistic societies, with the Aztec
placing great emphasis on
destruction and fertility.
- The practice of human sacrifice was
central in Aztec religion, and also
played a part in the Maya's society.
Middle
-Age of Exploration: During this period, improved technology permitted
explorers to travel great distances. This led to Columbus' discovery of the
New World, opening it to conquest by the Europeans. Missionaries
introduced Christianity and encomienda systems were established in which
owners would be in charge of the religious education of those natives working
on their land. Human sacrifice was soon put to an end.
-Middle Passage: The Middle Passage which was the transport of slaves from
Africa to the Americas, had a great influence in the Caribbean. Africans who
arrived created a new religion called Vodou, which was a mix of Christianity,
traditional African beliefs, and the beliefs of the natives of the Caribbean.
- As the world became more interconnected and technology improved, there
was a great movement of people. Indian workers traveled to the Caribbean as
indentured servants from the mid-1800's into the 1900's. There was also a
migration of East Asian workers.
End
-Latin America and the
Caribbean are religiously
diverse.
-There is a great emphasis
placed on Christianity, a
monotheistic religion in
Latin America, and the
Caribbean Christianity and
Vodou play important roles.
- Some traditional beliefs
have managed to remain in
society even with the arrival
of new religions, by melding
together with these new
ones.
Changes:
There was a great switch from the original animistic beliefs of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Age of Exploration which started in the 15th century led to the introduction of Christianity. This religion was greatly encouraged through the
encomienda systems and the missionaries who arrived from Europe, and so today is the main one practiced.
The Aztec and Maya's practice of human sacrifice was quickly put to an end.
The Middle Passage led to movement of Africans into the Caribbean and led to the formation of Vodou which remains an important religion there.
As the world became more integrated through the development of technology and the establishment of trade patterns, there was great migration of
people to Latin America and the Caribbean from all parts of the world, especially Chinese and Indian immigrants in the 19th century who came as
indentured servants after slavery was put to an end, leading these regions to be religiously diverse.
Continuities:
Old traditions and beliefs had an impact on the newly arriving religions.
Vodou was formed from traditional beliefs of the natives in the Caribbean, the religious beliefs of the Africans, and Christianity.
Christianity which arrived with the conquistadors in the 1400's is practiced today by the majority of the South American population.
Most are Roman Catholics.
Thesis: The increased presence of European missionaries over the following centuries after the Columbus' discovery of the new world led to a period
of transition in which the natives of Latin America underwent a religious conversion from the polytheism which had originally prevailed in the region
to the increasingly popular Christianity and later led to the formation of new religions such as Vodou. Later on, as the countries of the world grew
more interconnected through established trade routes and improved technology, there came to be great religious diversity in Latin America that can be
seen today, though an emphasis on Christianity is greatly apparent and traditional beliefs still remain present within the population through their
preservation in syncretic religions which arose during this transition.