The social hierarchy in the Spanish Conquest of the being and non-being are derived from the Western Judeo-Christian concepts of the Great Chain of Being. The Western Judeo-Christian concept of the Great Chain of Being is a religious hierarchy of all matter and life. It is divided into four categories: the being, realm of being, realm of becoming, and non-being. All segments are different levels of divinity. In this religious hierarchy, God is placed at the top of the hierarchy of being, humans are placed in the realm of being, animals and plants in the realm of becoming, and non-being are minerals. These levels demonstrate the rank of power each division possesses on earth. To emphasize, this particular system is a form of social control in
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This is vividly illustrated by Bartolome de las Casas, when describing the abominable actions Spanish Conquistadors committed toward the indigenous, he describes that the, “…most damnable things in the whole of Creation is the way in which the Spanish use natives to fish for pearls” (De las Casas, 93). In other words, the inhumane and cruel maltreatment of the indigenous divers for pearls demonstrate the dehumanization of indigenous people. The extensive exploitation and oppression toward the pearl divers display that they are worthless than a mineral, thus, degrading the indigenous to the realm of non-being in the Great Chain of Being. This ideology becomes problematic because it does not welcome indigeneity to enter the self-other dialect. The self-other dialect is a concept that describes when two beings recognize and acknowledge one another in society. It is a dogma that reduces inferior races by not letting them access into the self-other dialect. Thus, many indigenous people are massacred and tortured due to this principle. As a result, this dominant patriarchal system created racial, class, and gender constructs that are systemized in the Spanish …show more content…
Understanding the Spanish Caste system is important because these ideals are still embedded in Latin American culture. According to Virginia Q. Tilley who studies race and power in El Salvador, states that, “…terrified by thousands executions […] the indegenas abandoned native dress and language…” (Tilley, 167). In other words, assimilation to the status quo was the only option. It provides social mobility for the individual and security. Thus, indigenous people are forced to assimilate to a Ladino in order to be socially acceptable. Indigeneity is perceived as a block to progress. Therefore, many are required to adapt to mainstream culture. Accordingly, the present Caste system in Central America is revolutionized to three divisions. The superior ethnicity in the present racial hierarchy is Mestizos, next is Ladinos, and the bottom of the social class is indigenous and blacks. This ideology constructs patriarchal views of what is acceptable and allowed in society. Thus, the caste system is rooted in Latin American culture by stigmatizing the minority group that includes indigeneity and
This is vividly illustrated by Bartolome de las Casas, when describing the abominable actions Spanish Conquistadors committed toward the indigenous, he describes that the, “…most damnable things in the whole of Creation is the way in which the Spanish use natives to fish for pearls” (De las Casas, 93). In other words, the inhumane and cruel maltreatment of the indigenous divers for pearls demonstrate the dehumanization of indigenous people. The extensive exploitation and oppression toward the pearl divers display that they are worthless than a mineral, thus, degrading the indigenous to the realm of non-being in the Great Chain of Being. This ideology becomes problematic because it does not welcome indigeneity to enter the self-other dialect. The self-other dialect is a concept that describes when two beings recognize and acknowledge one another in society. It is a dogma that reduces inferior races by not letting them access into the self-other dialect. Thus, many indigenous people are massacred and tortured due to this principle. As a result, this dominant patriarchal system created racial, class, and gender constructs that are systemized in the Spanish …show more content…
Understanding the Spanish Caste system is important because these ideals are still embedded in Latin American culture. According to Virginia Q. Tilley who studies race and power in El Salvador, states that, “…terrified by thousands executions […] the indegenas abandoned native dress and language…” (Tilley, 167). In other words, assimilation to the status quo was the only option. It provides social mobility for the individual and security. Thus, indigenous people are forced to assimilate to a Ladino in order to be socially acceptable. Indigeneity is perceived as a block to progress. Therefore, many are required to adapt to mainstream culture. Accordingly, the present Caste system in Central America is revolutionized to three divisions. The superior ethnicity in the present racial hierarchy is Mestizos, next is Ladinos, and the bottom of the social class is indigenous and blacks. This ideology constructs patriarchal views of what is acceptable and allowed in society. Thus, the caste system is rooted in Latin American culture by stigmatizing the minority group that includes indigeneity and