History Lesson 13

El Colonialismo, parte 3 – Colonialism, part 3

The incredible shuffling of peoples that happened in the New World created an intricate social system in the Spanish colonies. There were many marriages (and also illicit unions) between people of various races, creating subgroups of people. Each one of these groups was named, and given a social ranking in the new society.

This practice was quite different from the racism that North America experienced, at least in some ways. It was much more complicated than just “Black and White.” There was official recognition and placement of people based on whether they were born in Spain or the New World, even if they were both of pure Spanish descent.

Speaking genealogically, Latin America is much more diverse than we might imagine. Even beyond the Spanish, the Natives, the Africans and the mixes, there are also traditionalist colonies of European Mennonites (like the Amish), various Asian immigrants, and many other subcultures that would surprise us.

How to Use This Page:

1. Listen to the audio as you read along with the Spanish on the left.

2. Open the English translation, and read the two side-by-side, making sure you understand the Spanish.

3. Close the English, and listen to the audio again, reading along in Spanish.

4. Close the Spanish, and listen once more. Maybe shut your eyes, and just try to catch as much as you can.

Overview Timeline

Al llegar en el nuevo mundo, los conquistadores abolieron el sacrificio humano, y forzaron a los indios a convertirse a la religión católica. Bajo el gobierno nuevo, la educación indígena no fue permitida, y muchas tradiciones y creencias se perdieron. Los españoles construyeron iglesias y misiones, e instalaron a los sacerdotes para instruir la gente en el catolicismo.

Durante el periodo colonial, cientos de miles de europeos inmigraron a las Américas, y un sistema llamado casta empezó. Los más altos fueron los peninsulares (españoles que nacieron en España), y más abajo, los criollos (españoles que nacieron en las Américas). Los indios tuvieron una posición baja en la sociedad, pero los más bajos fueron los negros—africanos que fueron traídos a las Américas como esclavos. Estos grupos también se mezclaron, creando los mestizos (español e indio), los mulatos (español y africano), los zambos (indio y africano) y más combinaciones.

Bajo el sistema de casta, los peninsulares normalmente tuvieron todo el poder y la riqueza. Algunos criollos también recibieron puestos importantes y se hicieron ricos, pero otros fueron pobres. En general, los de origen indígena fueron los campesinos y obreros de la sociedad nueva, viviendo en pobreza y opresión. Algunos negros fueron libres, mientras que muchos quedaron en esclavitud. Este sistema muy desigual contribuyó mucho a las tensiones que provocaron las revoluciones.

Con la mezcla de gente, lenguaje, religión, comida y tradición, una vida nueva formó en el nuevo mundo.

En algunas regiones hoy, sin embargo, existen varias tribus que no hablan español, ni participan en la vida moderna. En rincones apartados, grupos indígenas siguen practicando su forma antigua, con sus idiomas precolombinos y sus medicinas y prácticas tradicionales. Pero esto también está desapareciendo. En general, son pobres y no reciben mucho respeto. Muchos jóvenes salen para las ciudades grandes o para Estados Unidos, y poco a poco los idiomas mueren y las tradiciones se pierden.

Upon arriving in the New World, the conquistadors abolished human sacrifice, and forced the Indians to convert to the Catholic religion. Under the new government, the indigenous education was not permitted, and many traditions and beliefs were lost. The Spaniards built churches and missions, and installed priests to instruct the people in Catholicism.

During the colonial period, hundreds of thousands of Europeans immigrated to the Americas, and a system called casta began. The highest were the Peninsulars (Spaniards who were born in Spain), and next down, the Creoles (Spaniards born in the Americas). The Indians had a lower position in society, but the lowest were the Blacks–Africans who were brought to the Americas as slaves. These groups also mixed, creating the Mestizos (Spaniard and Indian), Mulattoes (Spaniard and African), Zambos (Indian and African) and more combinations.

Under the Casta system, the Peninsulars normally had all of the power and wealth. Some Creoles also received important positions and became rich, but others were poor. In general, those of indigenous origin were the peasants and laborers of the new society, living in poverty and oppression. Some Blacks were free, while many remained in slavery. This unequal system contributed greatly to the tensions that provoked the revolutions.

With the mixture of people, language, religion, food and tradition, a new life formed in the New World.

In some regions today, nevertheless, there exist various tribes that do not speak Spanish, nor participate in modern life. In remote corners, indigenous groups continue practicing their old ways, with their pre-Columbian languages and their traditional medicines and practices. But this also is disappearing. In general, they are poor and do not receive much respect. Many young people leave for the big cities or for the United States, and little by little the languages die and the traditions are lost.

Preguntas Básicas

1. What is the Casta system, and whom did it benefit most?

2. How did Casta contribute to the revolutions that were to come?

3. Are there still tribes that are substantially unaffected by the Spanish conquest and colonialism?