4. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN AMERICA THE ECONOMY
1.
America sent many of its resources to Spain between the 16 th and 18 th centuries. But Spanish territories inroduced a lot of products unknown inAmerica: Agriculture and livesock farming: - Agricultural workforce was Indian in the 16 th century. - The encomienda was a system through the Indians were required to live and work on the land of leading (destacado) Esuropeans. - Spanish farms turned into great estates called haciendas. - Europeans introduced many crops such as wheat, the vine, olives and sugar cane. - They brought animals like horses and pigs. 2. Mining: - The mines of Poos铆 and Zacaecas produced huge amounts of silver. - The mita was a system of forced labour (trabajo forzado) that supplied the Indian workforc for the mines. - All the silver mined in America belonged to the Spanish Crown, but in practise, the monarchy granted mining rights in return for receiving its own share. 3. Trade: - This was a monopoly of the Crown, regulated by the Casa de Contrataci贸n. Fleets of ships left Sevila to cross the Atlantic. - Manufactured goods and agricutural products were sent to America from Spain. - The ships returned to Spain with large amouns of silver and gold. - They brought back items that were completely new in Europe like corn, potatoes, tobacco and cacao (from which chocolate is made).
4. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN AMERICA INDIAN DECLINE - There was a dramatic decline in the Indian population of America after the Spanish coquest. - Causes: 1. Infectious diseases: - smallpox (viruela) and measles (sarampi贸n) were unknown in Americ so the Indians had no naural resistance. -Many Indians died during epidmics. 2. Conditions: - These were extremely harsh in mines and on plantations.
4. ECONOMY AND SOCIETY IN AMERICA
SOCIETY - Spanish American society was hierarchical. - The social position was determined the race and wealth: 1. Whites: - They were the dominant group. - They had official positions and acquired wealth from land and commerce. - We can distinguish between: a) - Peninsular Spaniards: They held official positions. b)- Creoles: They were born in America. 2. Mestizos: - They were the children of whites and Indians. - More men than women emigrated to America.They had children with Indian women. - As a result, mestizos increased in numbers 3. Indians: - They were the largest group in some tropical areas their numbers declined very rapidly. - They were replaced by black slaves, who were transported from Africa across the Atlantic. - In tropical areas the blacks worked in very harsh conditions on sugar and tobacco plantations.