Post Independence: The Nineteenth Century - Term Paper Example

They also graduated into farm or plantation owners. However, for the Arabs of Syria and Lebanon to migrate into Latin America in the late 1800s, some events occurred prompting them to live their original homes. The Arabs migrated due to the demographic pressures in their home areas, which were in the form of increased population. In addition, following the then increased conflict in the region, there was an influx in displaced persons. The displaced were Muslim populations of the caucus and Zionist settlers fleeing invasions.

In addition, they migrated due to the availability of both real and insinuated opportunities in Latin American countries. However, these opportunities were meant for people to improve their socio-economic status, as well as their well-being (Brukymar 154). In addition, the decline of the Ottoman Empire played a part in that there were multiple changes in the agricultural sector, as well as the increase in dominance of the Europeans in their homeland. Oppression by the Ottoman Empire is also considered a factor leading to the migration of Arabs to Latin America, together with religious strife between Arabs and Arab Christians.

In the process of migration to the new lands, they began in Central America, in the Caribbean islands then into Colombia. Moreover, the Syro-Lebanese immigrants contributed, significantly, to the spread of commerce among the locals (Bruckymar 152). This was especially so in the coastal areas where they initially settled. As a result, it led to the rise of several towns in Colombia to the level of dominant port towns. This is following the import export trade they conducted, as mentioned earlier.

They also, spread commerce into the interior, where there were untapped market and they began selling wares to the locals. Therefore, they opened up new markets that were neglected and created commercial networks. In addition, migration of Syro-Lebanese Arabs played a critical role in bringing an economic revolution to locals of Colombia. This was by increasing consumption of the local communities and bringing their products closer to the poor urban populations (Bruckymar 155). Culturally, they introduced a new language, Arabic that came to be commonly used in the region.

Additionally, religion became a new issue following the migration due to the plurality of religion among the migrants. For example, among the migrants there were Christians, mainly, who were of different persuasions from each other; moreover, the others were Jews and Muslims. Therefore, this brought diversity to the traditionally Roman Catholic religions following that it is practiced in Colombia. In addition, some of the Muslims migrants came to accept Christianity as their new religion to follow its dominance in the country.

Therefore, concerning integration, in the local society, the first Arab migrants were males, unaccompanied by women. As a result, they began intermarrying with the local women; however, not all descendants of mixed marriages had adequate knowledge of their Arab heritage and language. This is because there did not exist schools teaching Arabic or about their culture. Instead, Spanish became widespread as the language of communication and interaction. Later in time, Arab migrants brought substantial influence in the Colombian politics owing to the commercial influence they held.

However, there was