"pre-Columbian" is a word used to describe anything the culture and society of the people living in Mesoamerica (and occasionally all of North and South America) before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, and the other Europeans who followed, who introduced new animals, new religions, and all sorts of other changes to the way of life of the Native Americans/Indians. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary at www.m-w.com says the use of "pre-Columbian" dates from 1888.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.