Final answer:
The large numbers of Hindus in South America can be explained by historical patterns of colonial indentured labor migration and global trade, where Hindus from India brought their cultural and religious practices with them and integrated into local societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The historical diffusion pattern that helps to explain the large numbers of Hindus in South America is largely connected to colonial histories and patterns of migration and trade. During the colonial period, the British brought many indentured laborers from India to their colonies, including those in the Caribbean and South America. This practice began after the abolition of slavery and was intended to replace slave labor with cheap, indentured labor from India. These laborers, many of whom were Hindus, formed significant populations in the colonies where they worked, and their descendants continue to practice Hinduism in South America today.
The influence of Hinduism across the world, particularly in Southeast Asia, also spread through trade and the exporting of culture, goods, and religion during earlier periods of history. Moreover, the adaptability and integration of Hinduism with local traditions made it a highly persuasive religion, influencing the spread and retention of Hindu cultural practices and spiritual beliefs well beyond the Indian subcontinent.
Migratory patterns such as chain migration and the spread of religious and cultural practices through trade and maritime travel, compounded by the often indistinct nature of Hinduism which allowed it to be easily mixed with other traditions, further explain the wide dispersion of Hindu populations, including those in South America.