Which term describes a person of mixed European and Indigenous heritage?

Which term describes a person of mixed European and Indigenous heritage?

• A. Mestizo
• B. Mulatto
• C. Criollo
• D. Indio

Answer: (A)

Describing ancestry in Latin American history, a person with both European and Indigenous heritage is called a mestizo. The term comes from the Spanish word for mixing, reflecting the blending of European and Indigenous lineages that occurred after contact. In the old caste system, mestizos stood between those of full European descent and Indigenous communities, highlighting their mixed background. Mulatto describes mixed European and African ancestry, criollo refers to someone of European descent born in the Americas, and indio refers to Indigenous people. So mestizo best fits the description of European and Indigenous heritage.

Describing ancestry in Latin American history, a person with both European and Indigenous heritage is called a mestizo. The term comes from the Spanish word for mixing, reflecting the blending of European and Indigenous lineages that occurred after contact. In the old caste system, mestizos stood between those of full European descent and Indigenous communities, highlighting their mixed background. Mulatto describes mixed European and African ancestry, criollo refers to someone of European descent born in the Americas, and indio refers to Indigenous people. So mestizo best fits the description of European and Indigenous heritage.