Indigenous Populations
Definition
Indigenous populations refer to the original inhabitants of a region or area, who have lived there for generations before colonization or conquest. These populations have their own distinct cultures, languages, and ways of life.
Analogy
Imagine your house is taken over by new neighbors who want to completely change everything about it - the furniture, the decorations, even the structure itself. But you and your family have been living in that house for years, with your own unique style and traditions. That's what indigenous populations experienced when they were conquered by foreign powers.
Related terms
Colonialism: The practice of one nation extending its control over another through political and economic means.
Assimilation: The process by which individuals or groups adopt the dominant culture of a society while losing their own cultural practices.
Native Americans: Specific indigenous populations found in North America before European colonization.
"Indigenous Populations" appears in:
Subjects (5)
Practice Questions (6)
How did Spanish exploration impact indigenous populations in America?
How might history be altered had early indigenous populations successfully resisted against Spanish conquests?
How did Spain's economic policies impact indigenous populations during colonization?
What was a key cultural impact of the Spanish colonial caste system on indigenous populations?
Which disease brought by European explorers had a devastating impact on indigenous populations during this period?
What continued unabated during European colonization of North America despite various peace treaties with indigenous populations?
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