Regions with significant populations | |
---|---|
Latin America, United States, Spain, Philippines, Micronesia | |
Languages | |
| |
Religion | |
Predominantly Roman Catholic; religious minorities including Protestants and syncretism with Indigenous beliefs exist | |
Related ethnic groups | |
European peoples Indigenous peoples of the Americas Métis[1][2][3][4] * African diaspora in the Americas |
Mestizo (meh-STEE-tzo) is a Spanish term for a person who is of mixed European (usually Spanish) and Amerindian ancestry.
Mestizos have existed since Spain controlled much of what is now Latin America. A mestizo was usually the son of a Spanish father and a Native American mother. Mestizos form the largest part of the population in some Latin American nations. A large minority of mestizos makes up most of the population in Mexico, the Spanish-speaking nation with the largest population in the world.
During the colonial era, many Native Americans were converted to Roman Catholicism and began using Spanish instead of their traditional language. This was because of the concept that existed in the Spanish colonies, which gave more "value" to European people over Native Americans and Africans. Because of this, many Native Americans gained better social status by calling themselves "mestizos" instead of "Indios."
© MMXXIII Rich X Search. We shall prevail. All rights reserved. Rich X Search