1. The Spanish Caste System
EQ: How was Colonial Latin America organized socially, politically, and economically?

2. Casta Paintings
This painting explains the various racial mixes in Colonial Latin American society.

3. Colonial Latin America Caste System
When Spanish and Portuguese colonies were established in Central and South America a caste system was formed
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

4. Who Created the Casta Sytem?
The Roman Catholic Church
One’s caste was assigned at their baptism
Determined rank in society
Types of jobs, land ownership
Gender roles were developed for social organization
Provided basic order for Latin American society
Women essentially property of men
Upper class women could not work
Lower class women would often work outside of home

5. What were the traditional roles of men in Latin America?
Latin America is/was considered a “patriarchal” society
Male dominated
Most power – social and economic
Main supporter of the family
Formal education
Full participation in the government
Depending on social caste

6. What were the traditional roles of women in latin america?
Women’s role in Latin American society was that of a “Care-giver”
Managed the home
Raised the children
Cared for the elderly
No Formal Education
No participation in government

7. How did colonization affect Latin America?
Due to experience of colonization, Latin America will be forever changed
Persistent racial inequality
Deep divisions between rich and poor
Deep division between genders

8. Effects of the Caste System

9. Caste System By Race/Mix

10. Peninsulares
“Pure Blood”
From Spain or Portugal
Highest social class
Only class which could hold high office (church, military, administrative)
Spain wanted to keep loyalty of Colonial leaders

11. Creoloes
Born in Americas, pure Euro ancestry
Land-Owning
Elite
Could not hold highest positions
In 1800s will rebel against peninsulares in wars of independence

12. Mestizos Of Spanish and Indigenous descent
Spanish and Portuguese men married native women and had families (and raped)

13. Mulattoes and Zambos
Amerinidian and African descent

14. 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

15. Fractions by Fractions
There were various levels in society, in between main groups, based on fractions of blood
Castizos – ¾ European no more than ¼ Amerindian
Discriminated against by higher classes