Cultural Syncretism

Cultural Syncretism

Melissa Holland, Adam Burroughs, Vanessa Sanchez, Brandie Walker

HUMA215-1205B-31

January 27, 2013

AIU Online

Abstract

Cultural syncretism over the years has played a major role in shaping different countries societies into what they are today. Within this paper we will discuss the legacies of cultural syncretism within various parts of the world including the Americas, Africa, India and China. It will discuss the different types of encounters experienced within each region and the impacts that cultural syncretism has left on modern day.

Cultural Syncretism

The term syncretism is defined as an attempted union or merging of different practices or beliefs within aspects of a society such as religion, philosophy, language, and even politics (Dictionary.com, n.d.). Aligning within each of these aspects is important within a society, particularly related to the overall culture of the region in order to create a sense of underlying unity. Without cultural syncretism, most countries such as Africa, China, India, and the Americas would not have shaped into the culturally distinct countries as we know them to be today. Understanding the legacies and impacts of cultural syncretism is essential in understanding the cultural evolution of these countries and overall how Europe was actually very much involved in the cultural development within each region in some way.

European interaction with the cultures of the Americas, Africa, India and China aided in the transformation of these cultures as did the influence of these same native cultures had on the Europeans (Sayre, 2013 p. 276). Contact other than of European origin was experienced as well, between various neighboring native cultures. From a comparative stand point, the Western point of view of these newly discovered cultures were expansions for the already existing cultures in Europe. Contrast to the view of Westerners, the cultures viewed the European arrival as a cultural force that invaded the very core of their own cultural beliefs. The legacies of syncretism occurred as a result of invasion, in a sense the change or fusion was inevitable upon the Europeans, particularly Spanish arrival in the Americas.

By 900 CE, in 1519-21, the Aztec of empire of modern-day Mexico was invaded and eventually conquered by the Spanish through the use of various military technologies such as gunpowder, cannons, and muskets. After contact the label of barbaric was lifted through religious syncretism by bringing Christianity to the native cultures. As early as 1523, monks of Spanish decent created schools for Native Americans for the purpose of teaching music. Through music, dance, and dramas the Europeans were able to convert natives and indigenous populations to Christianity. From this a syncretic culture quickly was established in that European characteristics were "Indianized" and Indian culture was "Christianized".

Portugal, just as Spain was interested in exploring for trade and expansion purposes but their focus was more directed on Africa and the East as oppose to the Americas. Just as the Spanish experienced "déjà vu" in a sense upon entering unknown territory the Portuguese experienced the same upon entering Africa. Both found thriving civilizations just as advanced as them (Sayre, 2013, p. 281). The impact of the Portuguese merchants in regards to slave trade and religious syncretism was significant. The Kongolese, for example were attracted to Christianity, and willingly converted the state to be Christian as a Republic. A significant difference in how religious syncretism affected those in Africa shows in that the natives were able to adapt to this new form of religion and fuse it with their own.

In India the synthesis of cultures was far less surrounded in tension. Instead, India's leaders in the seventeenth and eighteenth century welcomed new traditions with open arms. The cultural syncretism that marks Indian art was widely resisted and rejected in China following European arrival. As opposed to other cultures discussed, the Chinese isolated themselves. The song dynasty and the "delicate living" of citizens, surpassed any preconceived notions Westerners had according to Marco Polo, the first Westerner to enter China's shores. Confuciansism dominated with additions from Daosim and Buddhism which was originally rejected as foreign. Religious syncretism could very well be the most influential and similar aspect of syncretism in itself.

If you take syncretism into consideration, you can realize that blending of starting cultures made a long lasting effect now and then. Every civilization has its own type of different culture and their own way of life but some cultures work to have the same outcome of that culture. Once cultures combine with each other they create a new teaching and belief system from many different cultures. Out of Europe, Africa, the Americas, China, and India, Europe was the only one to create their own culture. This was because Europe wanted to empower itself. They looked for other places to trade with for what they really wanted like silks and spices. Europe controlled the finances and trading markets so some civilizations could not keep up with the process. (Sayre, 2013)

Some western religious syncretism happened in China during the late 1800s. As syncretism is made of many different types of cultures, you can picture this in the Catholic Church in wanting to change natives of Africa to their beliefs. Africans in America left a huge mark on the region's economic, social, and ethnic aspects. It made an even bigger mark on the cultural, artistic, and religious development. The study of this created a blend of Christian and African religious beliefs. You can tell India's and China's cultures never accepted the Christian belief of the West. It is said that syncretism is occurring in these cultures today. Today it is called globalization which is the effect of syncretism in the different cultures. Along with culture, finance, and trade came more change and differences.

Some of the many legacies from the early encounters between Native Americans and Africans are still around today. Native Americans took over African cultures and traditions to make their own. Many say that African language is still used in some languages found today. Many legacies such as traditions still influence Native American communities and