Discovering South America: Brazil

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Brazil

Brazil after 1850, has contributed to some distinctly Brazilian cultural forms, especially in music and architecture. Distinct cultures also continue to survive among Afro-Brazilians, non-Portuguese immigrants from Europe and Asia, and isolated pockets of Indians. Portuguese is spoken by all Brazilians, but the language has absorbed hundreds of words from Indian and African languages. Accents, dialects, and slang vary by region. Variety in All Walks of Life Brazil is officially a Catholic country, but in practice the country’s reli- gious life also includes Indian animism , African cults, Afro-Catholic syn- cretism , and Kardecism, a spiritualist religion embracing Eastern mysticism, which is gaining popularity with white Brazilians. Architecture was the first art form in Brazil that developed into a distinctively Brazilian style, through the blending of European and African influences. During the 18th century, wealth created by sugar plantations and gold mines went into the building of gorgeous churches and public buildings in the regions of Bahia, Pernambuco, and Minas Gerais. After independence in 1822, Brazilian architects turned away from their Portuguese inheritance animism— the worship of animal and nature spirits. classical— relating to the ancient Greeks or Romans, especially with regard to their art, architecture, and literature. syncretism— a combination of different systems of belief. Words to Understand in this Chapter