The Colonial Period

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The Colonial PeriodANTH 221: Peoples and Cultures of MexicoKimberly Martin, Ph.D.

Goals of ColonizingWealth for European RoyaltyLand, wealth for colonizersWealth for the Catholic ChurchConverts for the Catholic Church

New SpainMexico was part of what was called New Spain

Two General Phases of Colonial PeriodEra of conquistadoresSpain did not have resources to politically or militarily control coloniesDepended on conquistadores to provide money, troops, ships, weapons for conquestOnly leaders got the rewards regular soldiers/sailors got little of what was promisedConquistadores were rewarded with 1/5 of all riches found in colonized areaComplete political control of the area they conqueredIndian servantsEncomiendasLand grantsTwo General Phases of Colonial PeriodEra of ViceroyaltiesSpain did not have resources to politically or militarily control coloniesDepended on conquistadores to provide money, troops, ships, weapons for conquestCortesRuled Mexico from 1521 15281522 - Appointed Governor and Captain General of Nueva Espana by Carlos VBuilt Mexico City and other citiesInitiated the encomiendasWorked on behalf of the ChurchDeveloped mining, farmingIntroduced new crops sugarIntroduced African slaves to MexicoLed an expedition to south as far as HondurasRecalled to Spain in 1528Returned to Mexico with title of Marquis of the Valley of OaxacaLived in Cuernavaca on huge hacienta Returned to Spain again and died in 1547 His remains were returned to Mexico for burial in Mexico City. Ruling Bodies in New SpainCortes Governor and Captain General of Nuevo Espana 1522 1528Council of the Indies - had power over all New World colonies 1524Audencia was a panel of judges who had a great deal of power/influence in the New World led by corrupt Nuno de Guzman 152762 Viceroys over 275 years, the first being Antonio de Mendoza 1535 - 1810

Indigenous PopulationsEstimates of population decline after conquest up to 90%DiseaseWarHungerCreation of clearly defined racial classesForced LaborRepartimiento/cuatequil each adult male had to contribute 45 days of labor per yearDebt Peonage Indios were paid in advance for labor at a rate that they could never repay debt was inherited from one generation to another, binding laborers to haciendas/encomienderos

The Caste SystemPeninsulares (Born in Spain)Criollos (7/8 or more European)Castizos (3/4 European)Mestizos (1/2 European)IndioNegro (slaves of African ancestry

Peninsulare + Indio = MestizoPeninsulare + Mestizo = CastizoPeninsulare + Castizo = CriolloExports to SpainSilver - largest exporter of silver still along with PeruCochineal - second largest export from the new world.TobaccoHides

(Olives and grapes were not allowed because of fear of competition for Spanish producers)

Global TradeAcapulco and Veracruz were the only ports allowed to operateTrade from the Spanish East Indies to Acapulco across the Pacific, overland to Veracruz, then across the Atlantic to Spain

EncomiendasA system of ownership of indigenous peopleSpaniards were given the rights over a certain number of indigenous peopleRight to demand labor and tribute from themResponsibility to protect them from raiding indigenous groupsResponsibility to convert them to CatholicismResponsibility to teach them Spanish and acculturate them to European culture. This did not include land directly, but indirectly control over the people meant control over their landLand without encomiendas was worthlessThe Church in New SpainFirst priests came in 1523Franciscans were the first missionariesDominicans, Augustinians followedOrders established themselves regionally with distinctive architecture, organizationWith the decimation of the populations, they abandoned many of their monasteriesTwo Phases of Church activity

Church as EnculturatorMissions were built across the less dense parts of New Spain Native codices/books burnedReligious rituals banned especially human sacrificeNative priests and teachers persecutedTemples, statues demolished and European buildings and churches built on top of them with stone taken from indigenous sitesFoods associated with religious ritual bannedIndigenous names replaced with Spanish namesPhase One1519 until 1555: Missionaries had totally independent power from ChurchIndios considered heathens rather than infidelsWere frequently advocates for indigenous folk against secular powersConversion was more important than orthodoxy Studied and recorded indigenous languagesTranslated religious teaching into indigenous languagesBernardino de Sahaguns complete history of life and religion in Mexico

La Virgin de GuadalupeConversion was syncretized rather than full conversion.

Virgin of Guadalupe 1531http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_k8E-f92sr0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RC0v9xZktEw&feature=fvst

Phase TwoAfter 1555: Church brought all under the control of BishopsIn reaction to Protestant challenges in Europe orthodoxy became the focusIndios not considered capable of education or of becoming priests Spanish was substituted for native languagesFocus on orthodox Catholic practices rather than syncretismHowever, syncretism was firmly established by this timeChurch obtained land grants, encomiendas and wealth from its operations in New Spain

In the End . . . Pensulares and Criollos controlled virtually all the farmable land in haciendas/encomiendas.Tribute from others meant most resources were funneled to upper classForced labor was in many cases almost like slave laborWealth was siphoned off to Europeans in Mexico and to Spain.The Church was an extremely powerful, wealthy and influential force in New Spain