The People And Culture Of The Dominican Republic

Located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea, the Dominican Republic is a unique place with a rich cultural heritage. In this text, readers will learn that the Dominican Republic has the oldest European settlement in the Western Hemisphere, is the only second largest island in the Caribbean and many more interesting elements that have shaped the culture of its people. Stunning, full-color photographs accompany the text, bringing concepts into dazzling focus. This thorough investigation of social studies topics is sure to hold reader's attention while supporting elementary curriculum.

Learn about the amazing history and culture of the enchantress of the Caribbean. The history that makes the island nation a rustic yet beautiful and enchanting sovereign land, with its people, its music, its culture, everything. You will learn why the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Republic, the paradise of the Americas, the lover of the Atlantic and the majestic piece of heart in form of humanity.

While the Spanish brought their religion, language, values, and traditions to the island to form the cornerstone of the Dominican culture, a later influx of Germans, Irish, Italians, and Sephardic Jews from the Dutch Caribbean and Lebanon added further variety. Traditional histories of the island have long overlooked the influence of black Africans on the national heritage, although this rich cultural legacy is evident in many areas. And while there has been ample discussion of the indigenous Taino people, very few of them survived over the centuries, and they left a lesser lasting imprint, limited to agriculture, diet, language, and religion.This distinctive cultural amalgam provides the backdrop for this book, which has become a classic text in the Dominican Republic. It is the first book to acknowledge creolization as the dominant feature of Dominican culture. The contributors are Dominican scholars and journalists, and they have also served as diplomats, university professors, museum directors, and artists.

Attention is also given to the thriving Dominican community in New York City, the "Dominicanyors.""--BOOK JACKET.

This new series of country guides is designed for travellers and students who want to understand the wider picture and build up an overall knowledge of a country. Each In Focus guide is a lively and thought-provoking introduction to the country's people, politics and culture. The In Focus guides will brief you on: The history: Conquest, life as a colony, quest for independence and the building of a modern nation. How history can help explain today's society and politics. The people: Who lives where, how they live. The different worlds of the poor and the rich; blacks, Indians and whites; Arabs and Jews; indigenous, disenfranchised and dispossessed peoples; human rights. The culture: What to read, what to see, what to hear. Who's who in literature, music, dance, theater and cinema. Roots and rites of different religions. Folk traditions and indigenous cultural celebrations. The politics: Who runs the country, who wants to run the country. Power and conflict between political parties, the military, guerillas and grassroots organizations. Historical ties to the U.S. The economy: What the country produces and exports, how the economy has developed, the impact of foreign debt and free market reforms, who gains and who loses, presence and role of U.S. corporations. Where to go, what to see: Must-see landmarks, lists of monuments and historical sites as well as the author's expert tips on what to see and do to get the most out of a short trip to the country. Plus... -- Facts and figures -- Chronology -- Practical advice -- Nontourist travel -- Further reading -- Useful addresses -- Color and b&w photos -- Maps

"Explores the geography, history, government, economy, people, and culture of the Dominican Republic"--Provided by publisher.

Despite its significance in the history of Spanish colonialism, the Dominican Republic is familiar to most outsiders through only a few elements of its past and culture. Non-Dominicans may be aware that the country shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti and that it is where Christopher Columbus chose to build a colony. Some may know that the country produces talented baseball players and musicians; others that it is a prime destination for beach vacations. Little else about the Dominican Republic is common knowledge outside its borders. This Reader seeks to change that. It provides an introduction to the history, politics, and culture of the country, from precolonial times into the early twenty-first century. Among the volume's 118 selections are essays, speeches, journalism, songs, poems, legal documents, testimonials, and short stories, as well as several interviews conducted especially for this Reader. Many of the selections have been translated into English for the first time. All of them are preceded by brief introductions written by the editors. The volume's eighty-five illustrations, ten of which appear in color, include maps, paintings, and photos of architecture, statues, famous figures, and Dominicans going about their everyday lives.