Final answer:
The term 'syncretism' describes the blending of cultural traits from two distinct cultures to form a new, hybrid culture. It differs from assimilation, where a minority culture becomes more like the dominant culture, often losing its original identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of syncretism refers to the blending of different cultural traits, including both original elements and acquired ones to form a new, cohesive cultural expression. In history, this often occurs when two distinct cultures come into contact and their religious beliefs, practices, or cultural values are mixed. For example, when Indigenous traditions under European rule were combined with Catholic practices, syncretism was observed through the creation of new art forms during the time of European colonization. Assimilation is a related but distinct process, referring to the situation where a minority culture gradually adopts the practices and values of a dominant culture, often leading to the loss of the minority's original cultural identity. This stands in contrast to syncretism, which implies a more even blend of the two cultures involved. Another related concept is amalgamation, which is the combination of a minority group and a majority group to create a completely new group, akin to the 'melting pot' idea.