An Overview of Indigenous Culture in the Amazonian Floodplains Essay

The Amazon Basin has long been occupied by indigenous populations. Those populations that live closest to the basin, in the lo west elevations, are worst to the extreme seasonal changes. Social order, therefore, is shaped by and large by the fluctuations of the seasons and of the river. in that respect are two seasons, one wet and one dry. Issues concerning shelter, transportation, food, and social interaction are largely determined by the seasons. Creative expression mythology, religion, celebration, and optical art are rooted in nature. The wet season, lasting somewhat from January to June, involves the flooding of the Amazon River. People are forced to travel by canoe, for there is no dry ground in their communities. Ho wever, because it is backbreaking and uncomfortable to move around, social interaction outside of the household is largely limited during this time. People spend much of their time in hammocks (one of the indigenous inventions), where they might repair clot hing or tools. Crops cannot be grown during this time, and look for is much more difficult, so people tend to lose ...