978-1-4222-3285-9

Series Glossary

free trade— trade based on the unrestricted exchange of goods, with tariffs (taxes) only used to create revenue, not keep out foreign goods. Mesoamerica— the region of southern North America that was inhabited before the arrival of the Spaniards. mestizo— a person of mixed Amerindian and European (typically Spanish) descent. plaza— the central open square at the center of colonial-era cities in Latin America. plebiscite— a vote by which the people of an entire country express their opinion on a particularl government or national policy. population density— a measurement of the number of people living in a specific area, such a square mile or square kilometer. pre-Columbian— referring to a time before the 1490s, when Christopher Columbus landed in the Americas. regime— a period of rule by a particular government, especially one that is considered to be oppressive. service industry —any business, organization, or profession that does work for a cus- tomer, but is not involved in manufacturing.

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