[TheGrimReaper]

While Argentina is principally founded on Western European culture (Spain, Italy, Britain), Brazil (in addition to its indiginous native population) is heavily influenced by African and Arab culture.
When the Portuguese discovered Rio de Janeiro (River of January), they actually misnamed it, thinking that the body of water running through the area was a river. It turned out to be a bay that cut into the coastline, but obviously they didn't bother to rename the city.

[xsmommy]

i was aware of the African influence, but not the Arab. When was there a migration of arabs to Brazil? during what time period? the Africans, obviously, were all part of the same slave trade. the europeans were after WW2. Obviously, Spain and Portugal were the original conquistadors. i forget what the treaty was that basically cut SA in half as between Spain and Portugal. i just had this last quarter with xsboy in his 5th grade social studies too!