Culture
The culture of Latin America was an interesting one. It was a blend of the Native American, Spanish, and African cultures and people. America provided new food. The natives provided architecture, canoes, and art. The Europeans provided religion and animals, especially horses. Africans provided farming, cooking, and crops. Drama, dance, and song (also provided by the Africans) were used to enhance the European religious services.
Society
At the top of this new society was the peninsulares, or people born in Spain. Next came the creoles, or American-born descendants of Spanish descent. After them came the mestizos, or those of both native and European descent. Following them came the mulattoes, or those of both African and European descent. Native Americans and Africans fell at bottom.