Latin Rite

The New World had many encounters, but two remarkable interactions with natives and explorers are that of Christopher Columbus and Hernando Cortes. Christopher Columbus was on orders from the King of Spain to travel a new route to find India and introduce them to a new religion. In 1492, Columbus reached what he thought was India; however, he was mistaken so now it is known as the West Indies because of this belief. At the beginning of the 16th century, Cortes set sail for Meso-America also for…

European Conquer of the America’s European conquering of the Americas was made possible with the technological advances the Europeans had at the time of arriving in the New World. The Spaniards and Portuguese employed such resources as the use of the steel sword, armor, muskets and cannons against the native’s bows and arrows and wooden clubs. Use of the horse in battle gave the Europeans an advantage over the native’s since they feared the animal. European culture gave them an advantage since…

Cuban Music Culture Cuba is an extremely diverse country, mixed with African, French, Asian and Spanish influences. Cuba is an extremely magnificent country filled with amazing people. The culture in Cuba is just as diverse and unique as the country itself. The most important cultural aspects that Cuba has is its music. Traditional music styles are still widely popular in Cuba and are often seen to this day. The best thing about these Cuban traditions is that although some of the countries…

In 1865 slavery in the United States of America ended, and since then the Black Community has been told to: get over it, move on, and, “leave the past in the past.” Since 1865 this country has taken steps toward making “improvements”; in the year 2008 we elected our first President with brown skin! Is that progress or what? Has the United States of America, the land of the free, home of the brave, and the place where all were created equal, left its race issues in the past? As much as we would…

The United States is often referred to as a Nation of Immigrants. Every person in America is either an immigrant or their ancestors were immigrants. A major period of immigration occurred in the mid nineteenth century. As population started to increase in the United States during the 19th century, immigration was a leading contributor to the population size. To some immigrants America was a safe haven from the events happening in their native country such as famine in Ireland to economic…

The Latin American colonies of Spain were heavily taxed, especially their native and mestizo populations, who were also treated as unimportant and were forced to labor in harsh conditions. This treatment caused uprisings that divided the social classes and created…

Christopher Columbus made wrong calculations, he and his men landed in a New World that would bring them great fortunes. Unfortunately, for the Natives living in the America’s the Europeans arrival would be the beginning of a terrible nightmare. In Latin Colonial America by Kevin Terraciano, there are letters and documents that give the various perspectives of people living during the initial conquest period. Native languages have been translated to English by Mattew Restall, Lisa Sousa and…

Since the period of conquest and colonization, Latin America has provided a site for the complex interaction of peoples of indigenous, European, and African descent. This triple cultural heritage has at varying points in Latin American history resulted in intricate socio- racial hierarchies that embraced racial heterogeneity in daily social practice. This sketch presents us with colonial Latin America in 1820, the sketch is composed of a Spanish man who we are able to conclude is well off…

Mythologies: Columbus Day Columbus Day is more a catastrophe than it is a celebration. The day that Christopher Columbus arrived in North America was a momentous day. Along with the great discovery of North America that is worthy of celebration, it also marks the beginning of the mass genocide of the Native Americans. The later of the two has been ignored. As the tales go, “In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” We are taught from the day we step foot into schools…

A Realistic Depiction: A Magical Experience In So Far From God, Ana Castillo attempts to make the traditional Chicano community more accessible to the American society. Castillo delves into a small conservative town where Sofi, a mother who struggles to find her inner strength, lives with her four daughters. In her depiction, Castillo uses magical realism to blur the lines between the real and the unreal in order to enable her characters to challenge the political and religious…