The impact of the Portuguese in Brasil (Brazil)

Portuguese speakers began arriving in the 16th century and indiginous populations dwindled from disease and slavery. Large numbers of slaves were brought from Africa. Most indiginous and Afro-Brazilian people adopted Roman Catholic Christianity, and many indiginous and all Afro-Brazilian people switched their family language to Portuguese. The Afro-Brazilian version of Catholicism includes elements of the Vodun Religion of west Africa but its adherants regard themselves as pure Catholics.