What is Acculturation?

Acculturation involves the process of change in customs, belief base, and artifacts from contact by two or more cultures. This term also can be used to refer to the results of these changes.

How does Acculturation Happen? 

Acculturation is the term given to the process which involves the reception and integration of various cultural elements by one human group within another. What this involves is a group of people acquiring a traditional philosophy which is different from their own or incorporating different aspects of this discovered culture typically to the determent of their very own culture. 

The most common external cause of acculturation occurring is colonization. The best and most historical example of this is the moment that Christopher Columbus discovered America. Because of this action, the indigenous people of the discovered areas started the process of acculturation. One of the most recognized adaptations they went through was learning to integrate the religious beliefs of Spain into their already established culture. 

Another example is the arrival of the Roman Empire into the Iberian Peninsula. The citizens of this land were given no choice other than to acquire the traditions, beliefs and the fundamental functions of the society and turn them into their own. 

There are many other similar and varied cases throughout history that have occurred. The most prominent of them is that of the African Aborigines during the 19th century. They were subjected to acculturation in customs, languages and religious beliefs. This was all due to the colonizing movements throughout their land.