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At the turn of the 20th century, why did neither Greeks (whether from Greece, Cyprus, or elsewhere in that general area) nor Copts (native Egyptian Christians) nor Assyrian/Chaldean Christians (from northern Iraq and area) immigrate to Latin America in nearly as large numbers as the Arab Christians (plus some Muslims and Druze) from Lebanon/Syria/Palestine or even in as large numbers as the Armenians, despite also being Christians from the eastern Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East?
To ask it in somewhat another way, why is the Greek population of Argentina or Brazil only 50,000 or so while the Armenian population is about 100,000 and the Levantine Arab population is well north of 1 million?
Also, what attracted Greek, Coptic, and Assyrian/Chaldean immigrants to the United States much more than to Latin America, and what attracted Levantine Christian immigrants to Latin America even more than to the United States, despite both groups sharing the same Mediterranean mentality as the numerically dominant Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian immigrants/inhabitants of Latin America?
As far as the Lebanese Christians, they went everywhere whether its in Latin America, North America, various countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, etc. In Latin America the Lebanese (and Syrians and some Palestinians) are known as turcos which means Turks. They were often persecuted in their native lands by the Ottoman Empire, largely due to their belief. They left that country in their quest to find peace somewhere else. The passport that they carried was from the Ottoman Empire and that’s where they get their name.
A few years ago a descendant of the Lebanese in Latin America told me that just in Brazil there are more Lebanese than in Lebanon itself. Even if most Lebanese and descendants around the world would like to go back to Lebanon, they are simply too many to even fit in the country.
I’m not well versed on the history of the Greeks or the Armenians. I can tell you that at least the Lebanese and Syrian Christians were severely oppressed by the Ottoman Empire in an attempt to turn them to Islam. They choose to leave the country instead. In Latin America most focused on commerce, usually starting as peddlers and other salespeople that move around. Through the generations many families became fixed in a place as their business grew and became a store or department store of sorts. Many Lebanese descendants became rich and highly influential, but in many countries they are known for being closed off to the outside world as they practice getting married even with their first cousin. That’s a tradition they brought themselves from the Middle East where this is very common.
The richest person in Latin America is a Mexican of Lebanese descent. Shakira is probably the most famous Lebanese descent from Latin America. She is Colombian. Just about every country is influenced in one way or another by these people. Some of their foods, such as the kibbeh (quipes in many countries) has been adopted into the national dishes of many countries.
At the turn of the 20th century, why did neither Greeks (whether from Greece, Cyprus, or elsewhere in that general area) nor Copts (native Egyptian Christians) nor Assyrian/Chaldean Christians (from northern Iraq and area) immigrate to Latin America in nearly as large numbers as the Arab Christians (plus some Muslims and Druze) from Lebanon/Syria/Palestine or even in as large numbers as the Armenians, despite also being Christians from the eastern Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East?
To ask it in somewhat another way, why is the Greek population of Argentina or Brazil only 50,000 or so while the Armenian population is about 100,000 and the Levantine Arab population is well north of 1 million?
Also, what attracted Greek, Coptic, and Assyrian/Chaldean immigrants to the United States much more than to Latin America, and what attracted Levantine Christian immigrants to Latin America even more than to the United States, despite both groups sharing the same Mediterranean mentality as the numerically dominant Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian immigrants/inhabitants of Latin America?
Brazil prefered Italians because how they were hired for work like employees in farms and urban jobs they were able to understand portuguese language just arrived in Brazil and they were catholic apostolic roman fitting better in Brazilian culture. Although Cristhians if not from Vatican faith they considered different religion in that time. So greeks were not that similar.
The lebanese and others middle eastern, most who came here were traders they traveled inner country with horse-drawn carts selling stuff, they came to Brazil independent, not sponsered by any employer so if they learn the language or not was their own problem, and they were in small numbers, Italians in another hand came in millions, so if they were a people of different culture, language and faith we would had integration problems.
I guess how the USA in that time preferred European immigration, the greeks were allowed immigrate at the USA in much bigger numbers than people holding passport of middle eastern countries
Here is Abraham Hazoury, a Dominican of Lebanese descent and the owner of Cap Cana. In this video he is complaining of Frank Rainieri, the founder and one of the owners of Puntacana Resort & Club right next door (on its land are places such as the airport, Blue Mall Punta Cana, Puntacana Village, The Westin Puntacana Resort, etc.) Cap Cana supposedly has the largest marina in the country, is twice the land area of Manhattan, has some sort of amusement park among other stuff. It will take decades to entirely develop that land. The point is to see his face. Needless to say that he is very rich.
This is the richest guy in Latin America, the Mexican if Lebanese descent Carlos Slim. He is actually in the Top 10 richest people in the world and lives in Mexico City.
This is probably the most famous Arab from Latin America, the Colombian of Lebanese descent Shakira.
Don't forget the beautiful Mexicana Salma Hayek, it seems Lebanese are pretty much mostly entrenched in countries like Brazil. In other Latin American countries they seem a bit endogamous.
Here is another rich Arab in Latin America (I think he is from Jordan.) He made his wealth in the oil business. They show a part of his family and part of his house. He used to live in the USA and then moved to Latin America. The video is in Arab, so I don’t understand it.
Not too long ago his son and friends interrupted a baseball game because he decided to land his helicopter in the stadium. I don’t know how he can have a crazy son and a normal daughter from the same parents. His son is constantly flying around the world. That guy doesn’t have something better to do. lol
Last edited by AntonioR; 06-19-2019 at 08:00 AM..
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