This book addresses a question: What do North Americans need to know to understand Latin America and their region?

A comprehensive explanation of Latin America and Latin Americans must transcend the normal boundaries of academic scholarship and engage bits and pieces of history, anthropology, economics, philosophy, and literature. Understanding Latin Americans requires familiarity with themes and concepts as well as facts and data. To comprehend regions history, one must know the events, statistics, chronologies, and biographies but also must fully appreciate importance of machismo, the family, spirituality, and what it means to be a mestizo.

To understand Latin American ethnology, one must consider the historic themes of elitism and servitude, how changing international markets first brought Africans to grow sugar, then European peasants to plant wheat. To know why the region endures significant poverty, students must explore the long-term relationships among ecology, technology, and imperial exploitation. To comprehend Latin America one must see designs as well as date and major themes are the central structure of this book. In addition, it seeks cognition born of inductive observation, description and sensual experience as well as deductive scholarship, reading and

intellectual reflection.

Latin America in terms of geographical settings is an ideal continent that has so many natural resources including sugar, coffee, and they also have oil and petroleum reserves. They are rich in indigens including Aztecs, Mayans, Inca and etc. They have the second broadest and longest river and also known as the lungs of the earth, amazon rainforest, and a desert with no recorded rainfall which is Atacama. They have also the most productive farm regions on earth the pampas of South America and central valley of Chile.

Latin America history has a great significance in the native civilization, European colonialism and almost two centuries of National autonomy. In terms of physical feature Latin America was not united but in terms of economy, they have been developed because they were colonize by foreign countries such as, France, Spain, England, Netherland, that are using their natural resources to export to their own country and other countries. The Latin America has three eras of history such as the native people, European empires, and modern actions. It was started to the discovery of Latin America by Christopher Columbus when he accidentally arrived in the Latin America which he called it as El Mundo.

Through time Latin America was developed in terms agriculture, commerce and industry. But in the past Latin American people were hunters, gatherers, in which they collect seeds and plant it rather than eat immediately. Hunters breed animals. Latin America is alsro divided in terms of agriculture and economics because in some place were poor and undeveloped unlike in Canada in North America they are abundant and rich in Capitalisms. They have also less consumption (eg. Oil, electricity, GD, etc) compare to Canada, and Canada is more literate citizens that covers ninety percent unlike Latin America. Latin America is not rich in resources but they have plenty of reserve of natural resources.

Latin America is a region of great ethnic diversity and dynamism. In various sides, Native American societies still exist from Mexico to Argentina. These natives are the Maya, Inca and Aztec from Guatemala, the Andes Mexico. There are also indigens , who used land bridge probably used dug outs canoes to catch fish and hunt coastal mammals. They study the two hundred sixty different indigen language rather than written language, pictorial systems recorded. They categorized their culture the semi sedentary, which occupying regions rather than fixed communities, the more complex sedentary, societies developed frowns which

settled agriculture, crafts and trade, semi sedentary, indigen cultures that developed major civilization, build homesteads practice slash and burn farming or transhumance, used plants and animals for an amazing array of foods, medicines and the sedentary society, practiced diversified agriculture and developed commerce based on signature artistry, settle down traded both with one another and with highly evolved civilization.

The Inca and Aztecs were most famous among the indigens. The Social structure was hierarchical with nobility commoners and slaves, merchants, warriors and farmers. The Inca State was authoritarian yet provident, linked by the administrative detail and a famous road system. They also have their state language the Quechua. Inca economy was productive but exploitative; the capital of Inca was Cuzco. Aztec Imperialism was different it is confederation in the valley of Anahuac. Aztec Empire was based on extortion leaders of neighboring tribes were invited to stage battles called Flower War. The Mayan surrounds Mayan cities.

Typical Indigen had highly decorated buildings with fine masonry. The ruling elite had huge spacious palaces with many servants. Indigens never fought in Spanish instead they welcome

then and treat them as an ally. Europeans carried viruses in the indigens place such as malaria, measles, mumps, small fox.

Meanwhile, these came a Criollos a colonial white Spaniards that grown up in Latin America and it parented as Peninsulares in our country Philippines. They are mestizos resulted from the genetic mixing European mean and indigen woman. In Mexico,60% of mestizos and 30% indigen creoles in National policy. There are migrants in Latin America because of the slave trade that came from Africa. The Africans in American from slaves, servants, nurses, nannies. They just given importance in the society because of the cabildos de nacion fraternal clubs or ethnic association originated by both blacks and slaves to be free. Africans and mestizos were both new people in the new world. The Asian immigrants Japanese, Chinese dominated and Filipino, Indonesians (brought by British) and Indians (brought by Dutch). Spanish and Portuguese gather the natives and force them to work to their supposedly land and collected tribute. Ecomienda entrust the land was grants for Indigens. Hacienda became Latin Americas dominant institution by the colonial era. In 16th century faith was the ultimate sovereignty. Religion was another European domination.

The poor in Latin America are usually dark-skinneddug, drilled, refined and shipped. Spaniards also forced indigen to mined mercury together with silver from Mexico, Potosi mines underwrote almost two centuries of European affluence and power. Mining sent European throughout Latin America. Colombia was a source for gold, rubies, and emeralds. Latin American bauxite became aluminum beer cans. Sugar plantation exemplifies the colonial interplay of ecology, technology, labor and empire. Plantation was engines of empire, driving Europeans to fight over Caribbean islands and African labor supplies hacienda evolved to meet European needs in temperate zones. It evolved in the colonial era as a response to changing demographics with ninety percent decrease in indigen populations, hacendados loaned money to local tribes facing tribute bills. A host of fiscal mechanisms kept hacienda peons in debt peonage. These included sharecropping, company store, and payment for religious services. The Hispanic desire for land was fueled by prestige. Those who raised sheep or cattle controlled real estate but also belonged to the governing class. Monopolies house of trade ( casa de contractacion) singular institution for managing commerce in the indies. The casa regulate every detail of maritime trade tax schedule, fleet time tables,

customers collections, cargo involves, authorized imports and exports and bartering merchants guilds called consulados. Beginning in 1552, the casa de contraction ordered that Spains Atlantic shipping would be done in armed flotillas as protection against attack but also as a mean to regularize and monitor commerce.

Consulados were guilds of merchants often members of one or free families joined by marriage compadrezgo and regional origin. Each consolado monopolized trade in a particular commodity: sugar, silver, textile, and soon. Informal economies are new world reality. Corruption has been a major historical force, smuggling, and bribery. Enforcing official policy has always been difficult. Bureaucratic procastation inhibited enforcement as policy. Americans usually lived by their wits, developed private ethics, and substituted personal wishes for imperial policies. Many inhabitants of the americans belonged to no empiricism considering American ecologies and technologies, smuggling was facile and frequent. Porous was imperial enforcement that illegal practice overwhelmed mercantilist policy everywhere. Nor was trade a textbook pattern of simple bilateral or triangular trade. The contraband corrupted not only officials but the imperial system. Bribes moved goods. Corruption was still plagues

Latin America colonial regimes did not create such modern misfortunes, but corruption during their era became endemic. Endless attempts to reform have failed.

During the nineteenth century Latin America became Britains informal colony as England monopolized regional commerce, located mines and refineries, built processing plant, constructed railroads and ports influenced politics, and controlled policies. In 1896, Great Britain has reduced Iberian empires and Iberia itself to commercial outpost. Incoming wealth and outgoing populations inflated to the cost of materials and wages in Spain and Portugal making it cheaper to buy manufactured goods abroad. Needing everything from woolens to weapons, Spanish and Portuguese merchants increasingly purchased these manufacturers.

The world of family in Latin America naming customs are Iberian. Both maternal and paternal names are used. Latin American families and homes are designed for strength and privacy. Children assume family responsibilities. Girls train for motherland by caring for their younger siblings.

The legacies of womanhood in Latin America confronts great contradictions. Iberian ideals surrounded women with protective mechanisms. On the other hand, most women, indigen,

mestizo and African Latin were often exploited but enjoyed personal freedoms. Ladies should be chaste, shy, pious, servile and complaint. Iberian lady supposed to spend one tenth of her waking time in prayer, taught to obey men. Female castas( racially mixed people) forced to submit, their promiscuity came to be assumed prostitution and keeping of mistresses were common. Women without father and husband operated more independently. African women enjoyed for greater liberties the Iberian or Indigen women. Latin American women in modern times were more educated. Poor rural women operate cottage industries or labor in fields, work in canneries and food processing plants. They also assume leadership roles farm cooperation and labor unions.

Marianismo is a concept of a mother or Virgin Mary portrays in a girl manner machismo. Machismo is a concept of machismo or man lines, flaunted doubled sexual standards by demanding faithfulness from wives while themselves visiting prostitutes, having affairs, keeping mistress.

A house of many spirits syncretism linked many forms of native animism and catholic spiritualism. The church of coercion is the catholic cross and sword Catholicism arrived in the

Americans as a weapon. The successful crusade against moors turned westward, across the Atlantic. Catholic orthodoxy became the test of political loyalty. The church of coercion exemplified by the interchangeable symbols of cross and the sword. Missionaries visited indigenous communities, catechized and built churches. Catholic coercion in Latin America was more than symbols and saints. Religious institutions also dominated. It also an arrangement between church and state known as el patronato real (royal patronage). It enhances catholic power. Indigens were considered neophytes. Catholic Church received a tithe of all personal income. Ecclesiastics commanded forced labor from indigens and African Latins. Clerics monopolized schools, hospitals and orphanages, held jurisdiction over births, marriages, divorce and death which entailed judicial power over inheritance, endowments and personal property. Religious faith and political loyalty was synomymous. Independence movement of the nineteenth century was viewed as both blasphemy and treason. Catholic church opposed liberty for Spanish america.

It was an instrument of faith but also authority, power and legitimacy. The church also preserved many fueros(privileges). Like king who gave so much in the church. They place their

images of Christ in the side and praise sadly a priest sermon as if saint. Catholicism remained dominant in economics and education. Church was the largest banker owner of property in Latin America. In Nicaragua, Agusto Cesar Sandino led a peasant revolt against both land lords and U.S marines. Sandino assassinated by Anastasio Somosa, who became dictator. The lower clergy of Catholic Church is a revolutionary force in Latin America struggling against the church of the bishops. The church coercion has been dramatically weakened by competition with a new and radical religious movement.

The church compassion Theology of Liberation Christs Gospel was wedded to both Marxism and modern social science, rekindling humanism as old as the missions. But Liberation theology is only the most recent manifestation of Catholicism other face.

Antonio de Montesimos rose to his pulpit one Sunday in 1511.

In order to make your sins against the Indians know to you, I have to come up on this pulpit. This boy says that you are in mortal sin, that you live and die in it, for the cruelty and tyranny you use in dealing with these people in such cruelty and horrible servitude? On what authority have you waged a defestable war against this people, who dwelt quietly and

peacefully on their own land? Are these not men? Have they not national souls? Are not bound to them.

Bartolome de las Casas , a conquistador became en comendor and exploit indigens at 40 years old he remounced exploitation and became Dominican priest. He argued that the crown should protect native peoples in Spain. At least the members of Catholic Church of compassion defended indigens and fight for the rights of the masses.

But when the priest is helping, they were killed like Miguel Hidalgo and Jose Maria Morelos. The Liberation Theology drives form the times it began with anti-colonialism, a movement for self-rule in Asia and Africa. It also another stimulus was the Cuban Revolution. Many young clerics discovered similarities between Marxs Communist Manifesto and Christs Sermon on the Mount. State of oppression, the soulless materialism of capitalism and simple neglect of conscience radicalized a generation of the catholic seminaries practicing compassion among the regions that poor. It was the modern social science that created Liberation Theologians. Demographics pushed Catholicism to change. Declining priesthood and growing Latin American population meant that many poor Catholics rarely saw priests and nuns or almost

never received sacraments and formal religions instruction. Liberation Theology also grows from reforms known as Vatican II. During the 1960s Catholicism renovated itself parishioners, folk music supplanted Gregorian chant, local art replaced classical statuary, congregation, participation in ceremonies. In 1970s and 1980s conflict between entrenched elites and liberation theologians intensified. And repression escalated and Christian became martyrs. In El Salvador, death Squad brandished such slogans as Be a soldier, kill a priest. In Nicaragua, liberationist priest blessed Sandinistas triumphed, Liberationist priest served the revolutionary government as cabinet members and role reminiscent of the earlier cross and sword but with a modern and revolutionary irony. Through Liberation Theology Catholicism or at least a part of it has emerged from centuries of orthodox lethargy to be militant again. Today, Latin America Catholicism is divided. Opposing Liberations are more defensive traditions. The Botanica is a warehouse of strange artifacts, a museum of odd potions, lotions and products.

The Evangelicos (Evangelicals) are remodeling the Latin American house of Spirit. The newest wave of Protestantism is more emotional, more messianic and more successful. These are fundamentalist, 7th day Adventist, Baptist, Jehovahs witnesses, Normons and many more are

evangelicals. Evangelicalism creates communal as well as personal change. Evangelicos employ emotionalism. Evangelical reworking of values brings many advantages; abstain from alcohol, drugs, crass, entertainment and gambling. Evangelisms, the most recent form of colonialism; thrives in Latin American only because U.S missionaries proselytized relentlessly. The impact of evangelicos conversion on Latin American families and communities is also often disruptive. Evangelicalism often appears as Imperialism. The main reason why U.S protestant mission have prospered in Latin American (rather than in other world region) is televisions. Evangelicalism also profits from the popular belief in North America infallibility; an idea common among Latin America s poor and powerless. Evangelicos are also politically active. In Central America during 1980s they allied themselves with right-wing regimes; change and permanence in the House of Spirits. In the long run, the main tendency in Latin America maybe secularism or at least some form of agnosticism; non-chance toward spiritual issues. The house of Spirit will also endure because Latin America feel emotionally connected with forces greater than supply and demand, national identity and television programming. For

these many reasons Latin America has been and remains a house of many spirits. Sanctity is still a goal of life.

In 1993, North Americans petroleum companies invade his homeland (Latin America). Five countries earlier, when evolving international markets and new technologies drove European to exploit resources throughout America. Imperialism has a long been extracted from Latin America labor was rich. Early Indigens were also scientist and engineers. Indigens agronomy in fact was sophisticated. Sedentary communities allowed urbanization, accelerated technical innovation and provided the leisure necessary for developing culture. It also involved seed selection; individual selection reinforced desired plant characteristics, pollinized plants through cutting and grafting, foot plows and natural fertilizers. The indigens agronomy included companion planting. Indigens also brought plants to water as wetlands horticulture. Agriculture was basis of indigen empires. Indigen elites sought dispersed ecologies were linked by imperial transportation system, well-engineered roads and rails (example, Inca highway network) inland and inshore boating.

The impact of European technology on America is hard to overstate. Changes were twofold; European extracted a growing list of products and replicating European lives in the America. Indigens viewed the earth as family; partner, mother or ancestor. Europeans approached the American earth as sexual aggressor. Rape of America commenced with Columbus. He wanted shortcut to the silks, silver, gold, ivory, spices and other lucrative commodities that had long crossed Asia to enrich Mediterranean ports like Venice and Genoa. The immediate objective of European exploitation in America was metal and gems. Hillsides were scoured for mines. Colonial silver mines to 20th century oil drilling. The powerful foreigners always white told where to dig or drill.

One major why most Latin American is poor in their region of great resources is that historic legacies endure; local geologies and ecologies are exploited with ever greater efficiency. And the technologies are owned by others or by local elites; U.S companies and wealthy Latin Americans. A major aspect of Industrialism is the application of power to process. Waterwheels allowed village entrepreneurs to card wool, cut lumber and grind grain. Waterwheels, larger hydraulics