The Multicultural Ethnic and Religious Mosaic of Ottoman-origin Immigrants in Uruguay (1875–1932): A Quantitative and Qualitative Study

This paper analyzes Uruguay’s rich cultural mosaic of ethnic and religious minorities from the Ottoman Empire through the lens of migration. Between 1875 and 1932—during Uruguay’s modernization and before the implementation of restrictive immigration laws—waves of immigrants of Ottoman origin helped shape the country’s social and cultural fabric. By combining archival documents, passenger lists, census data, and life stories, the article contributes to broader debates on migration, memory, religious diversity, and historical continuity in Latin America. Often homogenized under the local label “Turcos”, these immigrants in fact comprised a diverse population—including Armenians, Arabs, Jews, and Muslims—with varied strategies of cultural transmission and identity preservation. Our research confirms that many left the Ottoman Empire fleeing violence, discrimination, or marginalization, and that in Uruguay they formed a multifaceted community marked by ethnic, religious, and linguistic plurality. We also analyze immigration legislation and reconstruct the contributions of these communities to Uruguay’s plural identity.