Examples Of Syncretism

Throughout history civilizations have met through trade, expansion, warfare and various other means. Often when two cultures meet they share various aspects of their society with each other, including food, dress, language, and celebrations. Each group benefited from the exchange while still maintaining their own culture. Sometimes the meeting of two civilizations was more drastic and led to tremendous changes. Warfare and colonization were two of the main causes for the merging of cultures. When the more powerful group conquered another, the defeated people were often forced to adopt the customs and even believes of their conquerors. This led to the formation of a new, blended culture in a process called syncretism. Through this process the costumes, religions and even languages of the most powerful groups were transferred throughout the world. Two of the best examples syncretism occurred in ancient Rome, when Christianity transformed the empire, and in the new world when the Americas were colonized by Europe.

The Roman empire borrowed many of its beliefs and customs from the ancient Greeks. From sports to architecture to
The Romans relied heavily on ideas from the ancient Greeks. However, the height of Greek civilizations had long passed. There for the direct interaction between the two civilizations was not a factor in the development of ancient Roman culture. In latin America how ever the two influencing cultures- spanish and indigenous- met directly. This led to a very bloody and violent clash which ultimately influenced the culture of latin america. For example, the indigenous people were largely wiped out by the spanish invaders. Those who weren't killed were forced to adopt their captors language, religion and customs. The Romans, on the other hand, did not impose their religion on the people whose land they captured. Instead, they tolerated their different