Figure 1.--Historians are increasingly coming to the conclusion that the Native American population in the Amazon was much larger than previously believed. Even so, Native Americans unlike many other Latin American countries make up a small part of the Brazilian ethnic mix, much smaller than the captive Africans imported to work the sugar and other plantations. This family portrait shows three siblings from Maranhao, northern Brazil, an area wuth alarge slave population.

Ethnically the population of the Latin America is extremely diverse and varies from country to country. The infigenous population was Native Americans. There was a large and already diverse population living throughout the Americas. A very large, but debated number of Native Americans perished during the European conquest (especially the 15th century). European avarice and mistreatment was a factor, but the primary factor was the unknowing introduction of European diseases to which the Native Americans had no resistance. Even so, Native Americans are a major component of the ethnic mix in many countries (the Andeam countries, northern Central America, and Mexico). Europeans colonized the Americas beginning with Columbus' voyage (1492). Spain and Portugal were at first the major colonial powers and dominated South and Central America. The Spanish also attempted to control North America, but lacked the naval power to exclude the other Europan maritine countries. The English and French fought over North America with the British eventually defeating the French in the French and Indian wars which included important Caribbean battles. North America was this largely settled by the British and subsequently other European immigrant groups. Other countries also participated in the colonial process, including Denmark and the Netherlands. All except the Russians left an ethnic foot print, but it is the British who dominated. This ethnic mix was significantly widened by the importation of captive Africans as slaves. This was primarily to work immensly profitable sugar plantations in Brazil and the Caribbean. Some slaves were imported by the English North American colonies, but the vast majority went to Brazil and the Caibbean. Historians debate the size and cultural level of Brazilian Native Americans, but large numbers died as a result of slave raiding and disease. As a result, Afrricans make up a much larger part of Brazil's ethnic mix than Native Americans. The mixing of these peoples have created mestizos and mulattoes. More diversity as created by European (Italians were especially important) and Asian (China and Japan) immigration beginning in the 19th century. The British imported South Asians as indenturred laborers after abolishing slavery (Jamaica and Trinidad).

Ethnicities

Ethnically the population of the Latin America is extremely diverse. The indigenous population was Native Americans. There was a large and already diverse population living throughout the Americas. A very large, but debated number of Native Americans perished during the European conquest (especially the 15th century). European avarice and mistreatment was a factor, but the primary factor was the unknowing introduction of European diseases to which the Native Americans had no resistance. Even so, Native Americans are a major component of the ethnic mix in many countries (the Andean countries, northern Central America, and Mexico). Europeans colonized the Americas beginning with Columbus' voyage (1492). Spain and Portugal were at first the major colonial powers and dominated South and Central America. The Spanish also attempted to control North America, but lacked the naval power to exclude the other Europan maritine countries. The English and French fought over North America with the British eventually defeating the French in the French and Indian wars which included important Caribbean battles. North America was this largely settled by the British and subsequently other European immigrant groups. Other countries also participated in the colonial process, including Denmark and the Netherlands. All except the Russians left an ethnic foot print, but it is the British who dominated. This ethnic mix was significantly widened by the importation of captive Africans as slaves. This was primarily to work immensly profitable sugar plantations in Brazil and the Caribbean. Some slaves were imported by the English North American colonies, but the vast majority went to Brazil and the Caibbean wherethere are today large African-ethnic populations. Historians debate the size and cultural level of Brazilian Native Americans, but large numbers died as a result of slave raiding and disease. As a result, Africans make up a much larger part of Brazil's ethnic mox than Native mericans. The mixing of these peoples have created mestizos and mulattoes. More diversity as created by European (Italians were especially important) and Asian (China and Japan) immigration beginning in the 19th century. Japan has amall Japanee commuity. The British imported South Asians as indenturred laborers after abolishing slavery (Jamaica and Trinidad).

Country Trends

Ethnic patterns in Latin America and varies from country to country and regionally. There is some European ancestry in all of the region. The basic differential is the level of Native American ancestry. This tends to be very high throuhout the Andes as well as norhern Central America and Mexico. Virtually no native Amrericans survived in the Caribbean. Europeans make up a subtantial portion of the populatin in the Southern Cone, especially Argentina. The two major European countries contributing to the Latin American ethnic mix are Spain and Portugal which attempted to exclude other Europeans, especially Protestans. Other Eiropeans entered the Latin American population, especially in the Caribbean area. Italians played an especiall imprtant role Argentina. There are also great diffence over the number of Latin americans of African ancestry. The largest populatioin is in Brazil which importd large numbers of Africas to work on sugar and other plantations. There also are Africans in other South American countries (the Guianas, Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador. And large number in the as well in the the Caibbean. A few countries have small oriental populatins, mostly Japanese (Brazil) or Indian (Trinidad). We are developing etnicity pages in ou various country sections.

Created: 7:48 PM 2/17/2014
Last updated: 4:52 AM 2/20/2014