Questions and Answers
Social classes in colonial Latin America were based on ____________.
status
____________, Spanish and Portuguese officials born in Europe, were the highest social class and maintained power in colonial Latin America.
Peninsulares
____________ were Europeans born in Latin America and their descendants. Several ____________ groups were beneath the ____________.
Creoles; multiracial; creoles
Many social groups, such as the ____________ and ____________, emerged as a result of the intermarriage between Europeans and Native Americans or Africans.
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The Portuguese and Spanish increased their wealth by removing natural resources like ____________ and ____________ from Latin American land.
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Through the ____________ system, Spanish landowners forced Native Americans to pay taxes and provide ____________.
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In Peru, through a system known as the ____________, authorities could ____________ native peoples to work in silver mines.
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Portuguese and Spanish monarchies appointed governor-generals, or ____________, to help govern their colonies in Latin America.
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Determined to ____________ the native peoples, Catholic ____________ throughout the Spanish Empire brought Native Americans together into missions.
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With the establishment of convents, women had an outlet other than marriage; they could become ____________.
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What were the social, economic, and political characteristics of Spanish and Portuguese rule in Latin America?
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Study Notes
Social Structure in Colonial Latin America
- Social classes were determined by status, creating a hierarchical society.
- Peninsulares: Spanish and Portuguese officials born in Europe; held the highest power and status in the colonies.
- Creoles: Europeans born in Latin America; their descendants occupied a lower class than peninsulares.
- Emergence of mestizos (mixed European and Native American descent) and mulattoes (mixed European and African descent) due to intermarriage.
Economic Exploitation
- Colonies’ wealth was largely derived from extracting natural resources, primarily gold and silver.
- The encomienda system allowed landowners to demand taxes and labor from Native Americans.
Labor Systems
- In Peru, the mita system enabled authorities to draft indigenous peoples for labor, particularly in the mining of silver.
Colonial Governance
- The Spanish and Portuguese monarchies established governance through viceroys, who acted as governor-generals in colonies.
Religious Influence
- Catholic missionaries aimed to Christianize Indigenous populations, leading to the formation of missions.
- The establishment of convents provided women with opportunities beyond marriage, allowing them to become nuns.
Characteristics of Colonial Rule
- Socially, the colonies had complex interactions among various groups, supported by a rigid class system.
- Economically, practices included resource extraction, labor exploitation through encomienda and mita systems, and transatlantic trade with Europe.
- Politically, the governance was marked by the authority of viceroys and the significant role of the Catholic Church in colonial life.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the social classes of colonial Latin America with this quiz. Explore terms like Peninsulares and learn about the hierarchy that defined society during that period. Ideal for students studying history or sociology.
