Map of countries that make up Hispanic America
or
Spanish America () is strictly the region comprising the
American countries inhabited by
Spanish–speaking populations.
These countries have significant cultural commonalities with each other and with
Spain, whose colonies they were formerly. Although some of these countries later become colonies of other countries (
Belize of the
United Kingdom in 1786 and
Puerto Rico of the
United States in 1898), Spanish is the most spoken language in them. In all of them, Spanish is either the main language or shares this position with one or more
indigenous languages (such as
Guaraní,
Quechua,
Aymara, or
Mayan), or
English (in Belize and Puerto Rico).
Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion, as well.
The term "Hispanic America" contrasts with "
Ibero-America", which comprises Hispanic America together with
Brazil, a
Portuguese–speaking nation often referred to as "
Portuguese America" in history books. "Hispanic America" also contrasts with "
Latin America", which is usually equated with Ibero–America, but, depending on definition, often includes the former
French colonies in the Western Hemisphere.
Countries
In comparison, the population of
Anglo-America (United States and
Canada) is approximately 337,000,000, while that of
Brazil is 192,000,000. Canada (9,984,670 km²) and the United States (9,826,630 km²) occupy a combined area of 19,811,300 km², and
Brazil occupies 8,511,965 km².
Flag of Hispanic America
While relatively unknown, there is a flag representing the countries of Hispanic America, its people, history and shared cultural legacy.
It was created in October 1933 by Ángel Camblor,
captain of the
Uruguayan army. It was adopted by all the states of Spanish America during the
Pan-American Conference of the same year in
Montevideo,
Uruguay.
The white background stands for peace, the
Inti sun god of
Inca mythology symbolizes the light shining on the American continent, and the three crosses represent
Christopher Columbus'
caravels, the
Niña,
Pinta, and
Santa María, used in his
first voyage from Spain to the
New World in 1492. The
deep lilac color of the crosses evokes the color of the
lion on the
Coat of Arms of the
medieval Crown of Castile.
See also
