Blog 6: Fusion Culture

Obviously, the arrival of the Spanish to the Americas in the 15th and 16th had devastating consequences for the indigenous people of the region. During these times diseases wiped out whole tribes, exploitation destroyed civilizations, and overuse of resources destroyed pieces of history forever. A variety of cultures including the Aztecs in Mexico, indigenous tribes in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and many others were either completely eradicated or irreparably altered. Upon visiting these places it is clear that the Spanish attempted to remove all remnants of historically culture by both intentionally destroying local people and culture or by simply building their convents and cathedrals over the local structures. This is in stark contrast to the way the Spanish influenced Peru. After decimating most of Central America, it seems that ruining the Inca Empire was inescapable, however this assumption is incorrect. The Spanish arrival in Peru in the 16th century produced an interesting fusion of indigenous and Spanish culture.

Firstly, although the Spanish destroyed part of the Qori Cancha and the main plaza in Cuzco in order to build a cathedral and two convents, large parts of the Inca capital were left intact. Moreover, the religious shrines and ceremonial sites surrounding Cuzco were left untouched, although it remains to be argued if these sites were left in peace because the Spanish didn’t want to bother with them, or because the Spanish didn’t know they existed. Since the Inca (and other cultures of Peru) were not immediately eradicated there was an interesting opportunity for a fusion culture to develop. There are several prime examples of this fusion.

One example is the colonial churches built by the Spanish which are located throughout the Incan region. These churches represent a fusion, because they often include local influences. For example, biblical inscriptions on the walls of the churches are in Latin, Spanish and Quechua. Next, the religious idols and pictures often contain local influences such as outfits, adorning jewelry and fabrics. Finally, the mix of cultures can be seen in the architecture of the churches. The churches are constructed in the local style of adobe and mud brick; however they are decorated with the European oil fresco techniques.

The next example of the fusion culture is the Andean cross. This cross is very unique because it combines local religious beliefs with Catholicism. The cross is worn as a necklace or ring and is displayed in houses, hotels, and a variety of other locations in a manner similar to the Western cross. This cross is unique because it maintains the cross shape, but includes three steps on each branch of the cross which represents the three levels of the world (heavens, earth, and the underworld) in local culture.

Finally, criolla food very clearly embodies this fusion culture. Criolla is a mixture of Spanish food and local cuisine, which creates a genre of food all its own. A few examples of this gastronomy include beef loin with peppers, marinated beef heart with potatoes, shredded chicken with yellow sauce, rice with ham, and dehydrated potatoes stuffed with chicken.

Clearly, the Spanish have had a massive impact on the Americas. For some nations this impact was not for the better, however in Peru this impact has created an interesting and unique situation in which Spanish and indigenous cultures have blended to create a unique fusion culture.