Social Division in Latin America
To what extent are the current social divisions in Latin America the result of colonial socio-political structures?
LATIN AMERICA STUDY ESSAY
To what extent are the current social divisions in Latin America the result of colonial socio-political structures?
INTRODUCTION
The Spanish and Portuguese colonial period in Latin America lasted from 1492 to 1810. 300 years of violent domination, genocides, exploitation, repression of the native religion and culture, and native history re-writing. Also, the slave trade was at his peak time and thousands of persons kidnapped in Africa have been brought to America in slavery condition.
“The destruction of whole cultures – in every sense – left the majority of the population lost and struggling to find their identities, a struggle which continues to this day. (About.com, 2009)
In this essay I will explore the historical roots of “race stratification” and national elite during the colonial and postcolonial period in Latin America.
Colonial “castas” system
Colons developed a complex caste system based on race. This determined a person’s position in the. They created over one hundred miscegenation. * Peninsular: Spaniard from Spain * Criollo; criolla: Spanish descendant born in Latin America * Indio; India: Indigenous descendant * Negro; Negra: African descendant.
Ethnic Mixing in Spanish Colonial Times | African | ——— | Spaniard | ——— | Spaniard | ——— | Amerindian | ——— | African | | ↓ | | ↓ | | ↓ | | ↓ | | | Mulatto | | Criollo | | Mestizo | | Zambo | | |
(Wikipedia, 2010)
Each groups of “castas” had their privileges. For example only Spaniards and Indians deemed to be “pure race” had the possibility to be ennobled.
Use of Indigenous elite was a vital necessity for the Spaniards to exploit indigenous.
“The Indian nobility in Mexico and Peru acquired Spanish honorific titles of Don and Doña, won the right to intermarry with the conquistadores, and kept a
LATIN AMERICA STUDY ESSAY
To what extent are the current social divisions in Latin America the result of colonial socio-political structures?
INTRODUCTION
The Spanish and Portuguese colonial period in Latin America lasted from 1492 to 1810. 300 years of violent domination, genocides, exploitation, repression of the native religion and culture, and native history re-writing. Also, the slave trade was at his peak time and thousands of persons kidnapped in Africa have been brought to America in slavery condition.
“The destruction of whole cultures – in every sense – left the majority of the population lost and struggling to find their identities, a struggle which continues to this day. (About.com, 2009)
In this essay I will explore the historical roots of “race stratification” and national elite during the colonial and postcolonial period in Latin America.
Colonial “castas” system
Colons developed a complex caste system based on race. This determined a person’s position in the. They created over one hundred miscegenation. * Peninsular: Spaniard from Spain * Criollo; criolla: Spanish descendant born in Latin America * Indio; India: Indigenous descendant * Negro; Negra: African descendant.
Ethnic Mixing in Spanish Colonial Times | African | ——— | Spaniard | ——— | Spaniard | ——— | Amerindian | ——— | African | | ↓ | | ↓ | | ↓ | | ↓ | | | Mulatto | | Criollo | | Mestizo | | Zambo | | |
(Wikipedia, 2010)
Each groups of “castas” had their privileges. For example only Spaniards and Indians deemed to be “pure race” had the possibility to be ennobled.
Use of Indigenous elite was a vital necessity for the Spaniards to exploit indigenous.
“The Indian nobility in Mexico and Peru acquired Spanish honorific titles of Don and Doña, won the right to intermarry with the conquistadores, and kept a