Western Civilization I / Unit 16 WC1 1516 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Peninsulares, Criollos, Mestizos: Colonial Society
Captions available
The idea
Spanish-born peninsulares held the top offices over criollos born in the colonies; mestizos of mixed descent, mulatos, Indians and enslaved Africans ranked below in the castas. The anchor's judgment on the demographic catastrophe is carried as the record.
In practice
A hierarchy by birthplace and blood.
Where people slip
Creole resentment of peninsulares is a later story; the ranks are this unit's.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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