Ask Lemmy

Are you really asking what joins the people from such an isolated land? I mean, the rest of the world forgot/didn't know about it until 1492. They were alone, just counting with themselves if they needed or wanted to. Thus, the history of the indigenous people from that continent is super intertwined, even if they were independent peoples.

As two examples, the Mexica ("Aztecs") were originally from a region of the U.S.; the Incas traded with the Mexica. And it makes sense. The landmass itself has its history, and the fauna and flora are super unique and that made their ways of life different. No bread, no horses; they had their own basic foods and animals, their own cultures.

And then, after 1492, they share everything. The history of the U.S. is almost a copy-paste from other countries (or viceversa). I guess the difference is the Anglo ego that wants to pretend that their history is ultra special, when actually the blueprint of imperialism didn't vary that much. More genocides, less forced assimilation than in some other countries. More appetite for conserving the black slaves than in other countries. Obviously, particular history, as in any other territory. But the history of that land (America, the continent) kept being absurdly close. What happened in one country inspired or affected others, to the point that the entire continent gained its freedom over a couple decades because it was contagious. Trade, literature, etc. There are literal degrees on the history of Spanish speaking or Romance language speaking countries, making the whole "North and South" not only obsolete but an absurd. How can you divide Panama from Colombia, especially after the 1500s? No way. "Then it's Anglo vs Latin America" (conceding the point that America is the continent, by the way). No, that's just disguised xenophobia and very inaccurate as what do we do with Belize, Guyana, Quebec...?

"But continents are arbitrary". Yes. Europe is not separated from Asia, yet we divide them because of culture. If we respected American cultures, we'd do the same and recognize their similarities, their shared histories, their interdependence, and their sad subjugation in modern times to one of them: the U.S. (something something bananas and oil).

Testimony of the defense and use of that 'continental identity' is Our America (Nuestra América) from José Martí. It cannot be much clearer than that. Or the existence of things like the Journal de la Société des américanistes. American studies (Americanismo in Spanish, Americanística in Portuguese). IDK. It's just so crazy to me, no offense, but it's crazy that you asked what could they possibly had in common. Maybe listen to decolonial activists, indigenous activists, and actual American people outside the U.S...