Final answer:
The word 'pre-Columbian' is used to describe the period before the Spanish arrived in Mesoamerica, yet it's problematic for collapsing diverse cultures into a single European narrative. Alternative terms like 'pre-Hispanic' or 'ancient Americas' more aptly reflect the indigenous civilizations' richness without referencing European contact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The word that refers to the period before the Spanish arrived in Mesoamerica is pre-Columbian. However, the term pre-Columbian is seen as problematic as it invokes the name of a European explorer, Christopher Columbus, and generalizes the diverse and rich cultures that existed in the region such as the Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Inca, Aztecs, and others. Alternative terms like pre-Hispanic or ancient Americas are sometimes preferred as they don't reference European contact and maintain the focus on the indigenous civilizations themselves.
Mesoamerica was home to a tapestry of sophisticated societies that developed before the arrival of Europeans, with the Aztec and Inca empires being among the most prominent. These empires were cultural inheritors of a long line of civilizations, which saw the development of complex urban centers like Teotihuacan, advanced writing systems, and distinctive artistic and architectural achievements. The term Mesoamerica specifically refers to a region that includes modern-day central and southern Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and parts of Honduras and El Salvador.
The arrival of the Spanish at the end of the fifteenth century marked a new era in the Americas, leading to significant cultural and demographic changes, including the emergence of mestizo populations through the mixing of European and indigenous peoples. Nevertheless, the sophistication of the pre-Columbian cultures continues to hold a significant place in human history.