Hegemony In Latin America

Since the 16th century, the legacy of Spanish superiority ran rapidity throughout the newly founded colonies in Latin America. Immediately following the defeat of existing governments in the New World, the Spanish took over colonial control using hegemony. Hegemony is, “a kind of domination that implies a measure of consent by those at the bottom” (Chasteen 57). When the Spanish colonized the New World they brought with them their own hierarchically organized society, where members had clear social roles based on race. As a result of racial mixing between Spanish, Indigenous groups and Africans new categories and ranks were formed in the social hierarchy. This caste classification was often illustrated by artist in a series of caste paintings …show more content…
Shortly after the arrival of Spaniards in Latin America, racial mixing began to take place and continued until there were sixteen established categories used in caste painting sets. At first the categories included Spaniards, Indigenous groups, and Africans. Quickly, the categories grew to include groups such as Mestizos, Mulattos, and Lobos. A Mestizo was a child of a Spaniard and an Indian. While a Mulatto was a child of an African and a Spaniard and a Lobo was a child of an African and an Indian. The names of some groups were belittling and showed their low rank in the social ladder, for example animals names were used like Lobo which means wolf. The categories continued to grow more complex as these six categories intermingled and produced more children creating more new in between divisions. Caste paintings were commissioned to illustrate the mosaic caste system of Latin America. Titles of caste paintings were often “A Spaniard and an Indian make a Mestizo” the titles followed the same format for all of the different …show more content…
Categorizing individuals in a hierarchical system was important to colonial administration in order to show different ranks had different privileges and obligations. The Spaniards placed themselves at the top of the caste system and imposed broad outlines for things like religion and government. While the groups beneath the Spaniards contributed to style, rhythm, texture, and mood. When the Spanish tightened colonial control to serve European interest, economic hardship fell on those living in the colonies. The effects of the hardship included tax increases that, “fell directly on some, such as indigenous people, who were little able to pay” (Chasteen 76). Those at the bottom of the caste system had less money, which was often depicted through clothing in the caste paintings and they could not afford to pay the taxes. With the new hardships, the Crown wanted to insure that those in power in the colonies had European interest at heart. American born Spaniards were believed to defend their local interest over the motherlands interest causing many to lose administrative positions and also their opportunities for social advancements. While socially climbing men crowded them from below. Those who were climbing the social rankings were the product of transculturation mixing both racially and culturally. In caste