| Summary: | The island of Hispaniola, one of the Greater Antilles, lies between Cuba and Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea. The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of Hispaniola; the western third is Haiti. The contemporary population physically reflects European and African ancestry and most of the population is officially classified as "mulatto." Dominican society is based on skin color and class distinctions. The production and export of sugarcane has been the major economic activity of the Dominican Republic. Although the government is modeled after that of the United States, Dominican politics since colonial times has mostly reflected who controls the presidency. Dominicans speak Spanish. This file contains one document, a cultural summary that appeared in the Encyclopedia of World Cultures in 1995. The cultural summary includes information on history, settlement patterns, economy, kinship, marriage, family, sociopolitical organization, and religion.
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