Cultural Imprints on the Landscape Spanish

Spanish Methods of Settlement Presidios – fort Method of the sword To protect the Spanish claims & settlers against Indians & European intrusion Four major racial groups went into the making of this population: Spanish Indian mestizo (part Spanish, part Indian) mulatto (part black, part Spanish)

Santa Barbara Presidio blueprint

Alta California Presidios SAN DIEGO (1769) San Diego Bay. Large with narrow entrance affording protection from winds; proximity to Mexico MONTEREY (1770) Monterey Bay Exaggerated size and safety based on misleading reports of 17th cen. explorer Sebastian Vizcaíno; still it became site of capital and presidio of Alta California SAN FRANCISCO (1776) Bay of San Francisco. Narrow entrance (the Golden Gate) called by the Spanish the "Boca de San Francisco" (Mouth of San Francisco) Northernmost position allowed protection of Spanish claims on northern coastline SANTA BARBARA (1782) Santa Barbara Channel. Poor bay but bridged the long distance between presidios of San Diego and Monterey; also established Spanish presence along the narrow corridor between ocean and mountains vulnerable to Indian attack; planned as jump-off point for Spanish expansion into the interior.

Missions Method of the Cross To Christianize Native Americans Used adobe construction 21 missions in CA From 1769 – 1823 Father Junipero Serra founded first missions

Civil Communities Laid out by the Law of the Indies A set of codes that the Spanish crown set up to organize the new settlements Whole community is 27 sq miles, with a villa, pueblo, church A sign of early urban planning and urban morphology Plaza with a Governor’s palace, church was on the north side Focal point of the city

Private Land Grants Empressarios – a person who gets land and encourages settlement on his land Ex: Austin and Dewitt in Texas Ranchos – huge land tracts for ranching Cattle and horses were brought over from Spain 19 th Century – Brahma bull brought over to interbreed. They were able to withstand heat & humidity

Spanish Cultural Contributions to North America Urban morphology – study of form, structure, and shape of a city Architecture – ranch homes, wrought iron, tile roofs Toponyms – place names Catholicism Language Ranching – cattle, sheep Agriculture – wheat, horticulture