Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
The Spanish colonial territory in Mesoamerica where some Native American societies maintained sovereignty despite European contact, in contrast to other regions where assimilation occurred.
AP course connection
Topic 1.4: 1.4 Columbian Exchange, Spanish Exploration, and Conquest