Colonial Latin America
COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA
COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA
Donald J. Mabry Professor of History Mississippi State University and The Historical Text Archive historicaltextarchive.com
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For Paula Crockett Mabry
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Preface
The material in this book comes from my teaching Latin American history over many years. It does not pretend to be a textbook, although it could form the basis of one. It is more than an outline but much is omitted. This little book contains notes and commentary on important topics. It reflects my interpretation of Latin America in the colonial period. My focus is political and economic; I am more comfortable with such topics. Such topics as art, drama, and music are not mentioned. My expertise does not extend to these very worthwhile subjects. Some chapters are more complete than others because I taught more about them. In a number of instances, I have used lists to make it easier to spot important points. Readers should find that the book covers the essentials but that they might want to read articles and other books to find out more. Colonial Latin America, which lasted for about 300 years for most of the region, was extraordinarily complex and rich in texture. There are enormous differences between Mexico, on the one hand, and Brazil, on the other. The term “Latin America” is not only shorthand but
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also a bit of a misnomer, for much of it was not Latin. It was Indian or mestizo or African, often with little more than a veneer of Iberian culture. The degree to which it was any of these are Spanish, Portuguese, African, Indian, or some combination thereof varies according to place and time. We have trouble deciding what to call other humans. Some terms are inaccurate; some are invented to satisfy the politics of the day. Some are acceptable in one era and unacceptable in another. In modern parlance, the earlier immigrants are often called "Native Americans," a term as inaccurate as the term "Indian" or indio as the Iberians
COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA
Donald J. Mabry Professor of History Mississippi State University and The Historical Text Archive historicaltextarchive.com
ii
For Paula Crockett Mabry
iii
Preface
The material in this book comes from my teaching Latin American history over many years. It does not pretend to be a textbook, although it could form the basis of one. It is more than an outline but much is omitted. This little book contains notes and commentary on important topics. It reflects my interpretation of Latin America in the colonial period. My focus is political and economic; I am more comfortable with such topics. Such topics as art, drama, and music are not mentioned. My expertise does not extend to these very worthwhile subjects. Some chapters are more complete than others because I taught more about them. In a number of instances, I have used lists to make it easier to spot important points. Readers should find that the book covers the essentials but that they might want to read articles and other books to find out more. Colonial Latin America, which lasted for about 300 years for most of the region, was extraordinarily complex and rich in texture. There are enormous differences between Mexico, on the one hand, and Brazil, on the other. The term “Latin America” is not only shorthand but
iv
also a bit of a misnomer, for much of it was not Latin. It was Indian or mestizo or African, often with little more than a veneer of Iberian culture. The degree to which it was any of these are Spanish, Portuguese, African, Indian, or some combination thereof varies according to place and time. We have trouble deciding what to call other humans. Some terms are inaccurate; some are invented to satisfy the politics of the day. Some are acceptable in one era and unacceptable in another. In modern parlance, the earlier immigrants are often called "Native Americans," a term as inaccurate as the term "Indian" or indio as the Iberians
Bibliography: 228 Amaru (1740-1782)