“The mixing of Spanish and Amerindian blood prompted a new class system in Mexico. At the top of the social hierarchy (ranking of a group of people according to their social, economic, or political position) were the peninsulares, people who had been born in Spain. Under the peninsulares were the creoles, Spaniards who had been born in Mexico. Next were the mestizos, people of mixed Spanish and Amerindian ancestry, which were by far the largest group. At the bottom of the social ladder were the Amerindians, who worked the mines or served as laborers on the growing haciendas, or ranches owned by the peninsulares and creoles. Soon, African slaves were brought into Mexico to provide additional labor. In time, they too would intermarry, and their offspring would become mestizos.” -Early Civilizations in the Americas
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 15:36:50 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015