indigenous
native to a place
urbanization
the movement of people from rural areas into cities
dialect
local form of a language used in a particular place or by a certain group
megacity
city with more than 10 million people
primate city
a city that dominates a country's economy, culture, and government and in which poprlation is concentrated; usually the capital
patois
dialects that blend elements of indigenous, European, African, and Asian languages
glyph
picture writing carved in stone
chinampas
floating faming islands made by the Aztec
quipo
knotted cords of various lengths and colors used by the Inca to keep financial records
conquistador
Spanish term for "conqueror," referring to soldiers who conquered Native Americans in Lantin America
viceroy
representative of the Spanish monarch appointed to enforce laws in colonial Latin America
caudillo
a Latin America political leader from the late 1800s on, often a military dictator
syncretism
a blending of beliefs and practices from different religious into one faith
mural
wall painting
mosaic
picture or design made with small pieces of colored stone, glass, shell, or tile
extended family
household made up of several generations of family members
malnutrition
faulty or inadequate nutrition
f�tbol
Spanish term for soccer
jai alai
traditional handball-type game popular with Mexicans and Cubans