Political Transformations: Empires and Encounters 1450-1750 Chapter 13

Colonial Societies in the Americas Spanish, Portuguese, British, French Wholly new societies Mercantilism: Colonies provided markets for goods and bullion. Comparisons? Catholic Spain and Protestant England Type of economy Urbanized Mesoamerican and Andean natives versus rural villages of North America Role of women

Spanish Colonies Long before British and French Economic foundation: commercial agriculture, silver and gold mining Encomienda: The Spanish crown granted to particular Spanish settlers a number of local native people from whom they could require labor, gold, or agricultural produce and to whom they owed “protection” and instruction in the Christian faith. Repartimiento/Mita: same but with more control from the Spain, seen more as a tax/tribute, a certain % of natives were required to work for the estate owners for a certain amount of days Hacienda: the owners of the large estates directly employed native workers

Social Structure of Colonial Latin America Chapter 13

Colonial Latin American Caste System When Spanish and Portuguese colonies were established in central and south America a caste system formed. (castas) One’s social class was directly tied to how “pure” his blood was and his place of birth. The kings wanted to keep the colonies under their control and only have “loyal” people in office.

Peninsulares Creoles Mestizos Mulattoes Amerindians Zambos Africans

Peninsulares “pure blood” ??? From the Iberian Peninsula Highest social class and the only class which could hold high office (church, military, administrative) Spain wanted to keep loyalty of colonial leaders.

Creoles Born in Americas Land-owning Elite Could not hold highest positions In 1800s will rebel against peninsulares in wars of independence

Mestizos Of Spanish and Amerindian descent Spanish and Portuguese men married native women and had families.

Zambos = Amerindian and African descent Mulattoes = Spanish and African descent Zambos = Amerindian and African descent

Africans Many Africans were brought over from Africa to the colonies as slaves. Some of these Africans would escape from a plantation and find their way to native villages. Natives were usually sympathetic to the African people.

Factions by Fractions There were various levels in society, in between the main groups, based on blood quantum. Example: Castizos = ¾ European, no more than ¼ Amerindian Derogatory Slurs

Comparisons Spanish and Portuguese colonies differed in that Africans were not a huge factor in Spanish colonial society but were in Portuguese society. North American colonization was different in that women were colonists. There was not a shortage of women like in Meso and South America. Less racial mixing. In North America three main groups: white, red and black; in Spanish and Portuguese colonies many mixed-race groups

Settler Colonies in North America Many British settlers wanted to escape Old World society and start over, not recreate what they had. They could escape class restrictions of England. More British settlers came to New World than Spanish or Portuguese. Protestants not as interested in spreading Christianity as Catholics, but provided more literacy. More local self-government, joint-stock companies and royal charters. British crown relatively unconcerned with colonies.

Russian Empire From Moscow to world’s largest state (1500-1800) Brought the steppes and Siberia under its control Submission to Tsar, yasak (tribute), and Christianity Settlers put pressure on pastoralists/nomads Russified

Russian Empire Became multi-ethnic through conquest (Slavs, pastoralists, Siberians) Wealth in agriculture, furs, mineral deposits Peter the Great: 1689-1725, westernization and modernization Catherine the Great: 1762-1796, Enlightened despot

Asian Empires

Mughal Empire in India

Ottoman Empire