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Cultural Syncretism

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Cultural Syncretism
Cultural Syncretism

Cultural Syncretism Christina Doty
Alexis Garrett
American InterContinental University Online
HUMA215-1205B-07 Topics in Cultural Studies
Erin Pappas
January 27, 2013

Abstract
The legacies of cultural syncretism in Africa, and the Americas have been compared and contrasted with the resistance to cultural change Westerners encounter in China and India. The cultural factors that caused these different outcomes are discussed. This discussion is followed by the legacies that the differences in types of encounters and degrees of cultural change that are left today. Next the differences in the Americas regarding modern culture had syncretism not occurred are listed. Finally the differences in China or India are mentioned if cultural syncretism had been successful.

Cultural Syncretism
Throughout history cultural syncretism occurred in some societies, but not in others. This occurrence or lack thereof changed the way these societies were shaped. Looking back Western Europe was becoming a power house by attempting to dominate other nations around them. This domination was successful in some areas of the globe, but not the other. Many research look to understand why. When the Westerners landed in Africa, the Americas, China, and India there were just one of two outcomes: syncretism and rejection.

Compare and Contrast the Legacies of Cultural Syncretism
Cultural syncretism came more easily within Africa and the Americas, than it did to China and India from the Westerners. In both Africa and the Americas there were many different tribes present thus causing a weakening of the people as opposed to China, India, and the Westerners who had created nations (Sayre, 2009). For example even though the Aztec tribe was large in numbers they had created many enemies by waging war on neighboring villages. This was done to retain individuals for their sacrificial rituals, which naturally their neighbors did not approve of. As a result when


References: AIU. (2012). Social structue. Retrieved from https://mycampus.aiu-online.com/pages/ MainFrame.aspx?ContentFrame=/Home/Pages/Default.aspx Sayre, H. M. (2009). Discovering the Humanities. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
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