Discovering South America: Brazil

Series Glossary

Amerindian— a term for the indigenous peoples of North, Central, and South America before the arrival of Europeans in the late 15th century. Carnival— a popular festival in many South American countries, characterized by parades, dancing, and ornate costumes. It is celebrated just before the start of the Roman Catholic season of Lent, the 40-day period before Easter Sunday. civil liberty— the right of people to do or say things that are not illegal without being stopped or interrupted by the government. Communism— a political system in which all resources, industries, and property are considered to be held in common by all the people, with government as the cen- tral authority responsible for controlling all economic and social activity. coup d’état— the violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group. criollo— a resident of Spain's New World colonies who was born in North America to parents of Spanish ancestry. During the colonial period, criollos ranked above mestizos in the social order. deforestation— the action or process of clearing forests. economic system— the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and ser- vices within a country. embargo— a government restriction or restraint on commerce, especially an order that prohibits trade with a particular nation. foreign aid— financial assistance given by one country to another. free trade— trade based on the unrestricted exchange of goods, with tariffs (taxes) only used to create revenue, not keep out foreign goods. indigenous people— a name for native Amerindian tribes that lived in an area before Europeans came to settle there.

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