Colonial Latin America Essay

The arrival of Christopher Columbus in the New World gave impetus to an era of Portuguese and Spanish colonization that later established the defining conflicts in Latin America that remain evident up till now – culture clashes, religious and military conquest, slavery, as well as economic exploitation . However, beyond these refulgent themes and grand historical events, an important topic that is often overlooked is what life was actually like for women in Colonial Latin America. This paper explores the role of women in Colonial Latin America, with the goal of understanding women in their society and time, without judging them based on the current of past social or political agendas. My preliminary appraisal of the role of women in Colonial Latin America at the university library suggests that survival was difficult for women. Colonial women were mothers, wives, nuns, spinsters, and concubines; they participated in the local economy, as well . Due to their numbers in Colonial Latin America, the active role of women in economic activities is not unexpected. Beyond their economic role, women also
However, the enlightenment reform led to vast improvements in the lives of women all through colonial Latin America. My task is to analyze the role and lives of women in colonial Latin America. This paper will respond to the questions of marriage and family, the participation of women in economic activities, the unique role of women in the perpetration of slavery, as well as the role of enlightenment reform in improving the conditions for women. This approach will better delineate the overall role of women in colonial Latin