Lecture 1 - History of Americas Flashcards
(28 cards)
Indigena
Syftar på de ursprungliga folken som levde i Amerika innan européerna kom. De har egna språk, kulturer och traditioner som är mycket gamla. Exempel: maya, quechua, aymara, guaraní
Mestizo/Ladino
Mestizo: Person of mixed origin – usually a mixture of European (usually Spanish) and indigenous ancestry.
Ladino: In Central America, especially in Guatemala, “ladino” is often used synonymously with “mestizo”, but can also refer to someone who culturally identifies with the non-indigenous majority culture, regardless of exact ancestry
Afrodescendiente
Människor med afrikanskt ursprung, ofta ättlingar till dem som fördes till Latinamerika genom den transatlantiska slavhandeln. De finns särskilt i Karibien, Brasilien, Colombia och andra kustregioner.
Criollo
Under kolonialtiden betydde det en person av helspanskt (europeiskt) ursprung, men född i Latinamerika. Criollos hade ofta hög social status, men stod under spanjorerna födda i Europa (peninsulares
What identifies the Economies of LA?
- Inequality as a major concern
- Large informal economy
NAFTA (1994) → USMCA (2020)?
NAFTA was a landmark trade deal between the US, Canada, and Mexico, boosting regional trade and integration, but criticized for job losses in the US. It was replaced by the USMCA, which updated terms but kept core goals
CAFTA-DR (2005):
The Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement expanded US trade ties with Central America and the DR, aiming to boost investment and labor standards
MERCOSUR (1991):
A South American trade bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and others) focused on economic integration and competitiveness.
CAN (1969):
The Andean Community (Comunidad Andina), a regional organization for cooperation and integration among Andean countries (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and formerly Venezuela)
Neoliberalism & the Washington Consensus?
A set of economic policies (trade liberalization, privatization, deregulation) promoted in Latin America since the 1980s, often linked to US-led institutions. The Washington Consensus prescribed these reforms after the debt crises, but outcomes were mixed and led to backlash against inequality and US influence
Encomienda/hacienda/estancia/latifundia - What are these?
system of institutionalized forced labor
The role of the crown and catholic church?
Crown + Catholic church = power. The indigenous population as providers of labours and receivers of Catholic faith
3 names of types of administration
- Pensinsulares
- Caciques
- Corregidores
Impact of enslavement in: 1. Caribbean islands, 2. Mexico, 3. Peru
1.Caribbean islands: original inhabitants disappeared almost completely
2.Mexico: 50-90% indigenous population killed, mainly by disease
3.Peru: 82 million deaths due to overwork and disease between 1540-1800
Land as commodity?
<> Communal property and use
Determinant of wealth and status
Restricted access for indigenous population
Role of Women?
politics of marriage (EX: chapter 5 → Settlers in California, more connected to US + big role of intermarriage between the groups)
Why is de las Casas’ writing this text: In defense of the indians?
De las Casas wrote “In Defense of the Indians” to expose and stop the abuse of indigenous peoples, to defend their humanity and rights, to challenge the justifications for colonial violence, and to promote Christian ethics and reform in the Spanish Empire
How is de las Casas depicting the indigenous population?
- As rational, intelligent, capable of social organization (there’s proof of advanced civilisation)
- not natural slaves
- their lack of christianity does not justify their subjugation
- highlithing their suffering “From the fact that indians are barbarians it does not necessarily follow that they are incapable of government and have to be ruled by others, except to be taught about the catholic faith and to be admitted to holy sacraments” –> nature barbaric, needs god etc
Bourbon and the pompaline reforms
- implemented by Spanish Bourbon kings (Philip V, Ferdinand VI, Charles III, and Charles IV), aimed to revitalize the Spanish Empire by modernizing its administration, strengthening control, and fostering economic growth
- Centralization and rationalization
- Breaking of trade monopolies
- Reorganization of tax collection system
- Expulsion of the Jesuits
→ Short-term impact: ‘a second conquest’
→ Long-term impact: introduction of new ideas on commerce,
politics and philosophy → seeds for rebellion and independence
What was the Tupac Amaru rebellion?
- 1720 - 1790
- Indian rebellions
- Peru and Bolivia
- Most importantly lead by Tupac Amaru; ambition to create Andean Utopia
- He was then excetuted in public
What was the role of race in the Túpac Amaru rebellion?
Central role, it was a response to centuries of economic and social oppression by the spanish: spec. targeted indigenous groups
“The indians found themselves in a flooded market and had difficulties in obtaining the money needed to pay taxes and for repartos”
What was the role of Inca culture in the Túpac Amaru rebellion?
Unifying force, source of legitimacy for Tupac, we wore traditional clothes, framing the revival of the heritage
using inca symbolics, people saw him as inca. → His army showed the influence of European concepts, strict hierarchy. (Spaniards also followed him)
What were the consequences of the Túpac Amaru rebellion?
- Extreme violence
- short term changes, but it became a symbol of resistance
- Uprisings affected trade, blocked roads: logistical problems that led to desertions.
- Tupac Executed, quartered, burned
- The colonial authorities prohibited Inca from using titles, ordered destruction of paintings of the Incas, forced Indians to dress in modern clothes.
What was the context of the Tupac-rebellions?
Bourbon dynasty under Charles III, aiming to reorganize the imperial state + streamline colonial system, liknande system som i andra kolonier, extracting metals, blurred line between colonizers and colonized : intermarriage etc + less clear connection to Madrid.
