Transcript 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.