Vocab #8: "Mexico" pgs. 216 - 220

indigenous People descended from an area’s first inhabitants; for example, Native Americans are the indigenous people of North, Central, and South America.

Mestizo A blending of peoples of Native American and European descent; this ethnic group is the largest part of the population of Mexico today.

urbanization The migration of people from the countryside to cities and the natural population growth within urban areas

glyph Picture writings carved in stone; the Mayan civilization placed many such glyphs on their temples to honor their gods and record history.

chinampas Created by the Aztec civilization, chinampas were floating islands made from large rafts covered with mud from the lake bottom; they used them to grow crops year-round.

conquistador A conqueror; for example, Hernan Cortes was the conquistador that defeated the Aztec Empire.

viceroy A royally appointed official that governed under a highly structured political system; for example, the king of Spain appointed a viceroy to rule Mexico in his name after the Spanish conquest of the New World.

caudillo After Mexico’s independence from Spain, the caudillo, or dictator, emerged and became absolute rulers (with the backing of the military and the wealthy.)

syncretism A blending of beliefs and practices from different religions; for example, in southern Mexico there are beliefs that are combinations of ancient Mayan traditions and Roman Catholic traditions.

mosaics Pictures or designs made with colored stone or tile; many buildings and structures in Mexico have mosaic designs of Aztec, Mayan, and Spanish heritage.

extended family A family structure composed of aunts, uncles, grandparents, great-parents, and cousins as well as parents and children; there is a huge value placed on all family members in Latin American culture.