Central America is the region of America that is bordered by Mexico in the North and Colombia in the South. This region was greatly impacted by the processes of Spanish colonization and the slave trade, particularly when it comes to diversity.
Prior to the arrival of the Spanish, the population of the region was composed exclusively of indigenous people. These people were not homogeneous, but they shared several common cultural traits. With the arrival of the Spanish, and the subsequent offspring of mixed couples (most often Spanish men and indigenous women), the region became more diverse. This diversity was increased when the slave trade brought African slaves to the Americas. These various groups established relationships with one another, leading to great genetic variety over time. It also led to the development of various racial terms such as "mestizo," "criollo" and "mulato," as well as a strict racial hierarchy that governed relationships between the various groups.
