Compare and contrast at least three views of the racial/ethnic hierarchy in colonial Latin America, represented by primary sources studied in this class. Consider how and why the various perspectives differ, how they are similar, and how they shed light on our understanding of race relations in this period.
Colonial Latin America was a vast and diverse region, punctuated by profound differences in climate, culture and race. It comprised at its greatest extent: the entirety of the South American continent, Central America, The Caribbean and even parts of North America (Blue Reader maps 4-7). For most of the colonial period, these areas were dominated by two Atlantic facing European nations, Spain and Portugal. The size and diversity of the …show more content…
The region was composed of a mainly coastal, cluster of semi-independent settlements and plantations (Blue Reader 82-88). The native population was semi-nomadic and small, and the most profitable activities (Sugar and Coffee production) could only be practiced close to the sea or major waterways. This combined with Portuguese early control of the slave trade, prompted a completely different colonial regime. To make up for the lack of native workers, Portuguese imported a large number of West African slaves, they made up about sixty-five percent of the native population. Whereas in Spanish Latin America, the hierarchy was highly legalistic and made up of both racial and social elements, In Brazil the system was almost exclusively racial; whites over blacks. Slavery was endemic in this region, with a small elite of Portuguese plantation owners, overseeing a vast body of black slaves and poorer whites called Lavoradores (literally workers) (Children of God’s Fire 63-71). Resistance was difficult because of the relative isolation of different settlements and the brutality of the system. However, small groups of blacks and lower class whites did take part in some local militias, and there were some isolated revolts from time to
Colonial Latin America was a vast and diverse region, punctuated by profound differences in climate, culture and race. It comprised at its greatest extent: the entirety of the South American continent, Central America, The Caribbean and even parts of North America (Blue Reader maps 4-7). For most of the colonial period, these areas were dominated by two Atlantic facing European nations, Spain and Portugal. The size and diversity of the …show more content…
The region was composed of a mainly coastal, cluster of semi-independent settlements and plantations (Blue Reader 82-88). The native population was semi-nomadic and small, and the most profitable activities (Sugar and Coffee production) could only be practiced close to the sea or major waterways. This combined with Portuguese early control of the slave trade, prompted a completely different colonial regime. To make up for the lack of native workers, Portuguese imported a large number of West African slaves, they made up about sixty-five percent of the native population. Whereas in Spanish Latin America, the hierarchy was highly legalistic and made up of both racial and social elements, In Brazil the system was almost exclusively racial; whites over blacks. Slavery was endemic in this region, with a small elite of Portuguese plantation owners, overseeing a vast body of black slaves and poorer whites called Lavoradores (literally workers) (Children of God’s Fire 63-71). Resistance was difficult because of the relative isolation of different settlements and the brutality of the system. However, small groups of blacks and lower class whites did take part in some local militias, and there were some isolated revolts from time to