HOW WAS THE SOCIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE VICEROYALTY IN PERU? - HISTORY - 2024

The social organization of the viceroyalty in Peru was characterized by being hierarchical and, like all viceroyalties, having the King of Spain as the highest power. It was, after Mexico, the most important viceroyalty of the crown.

This viceroyalty was established in 1542 through a Royal Decree issued by King Carlos I of Spain, which empowered him to exercise authority in the new lands. The seat of this government, represented at the beginning by Viceroy Blasco Núñez de Vela, was the city of Lima, where it was established from May 15, 1544.

Image via historiaperuana.pe

The viceroy of Peru had jurisdiction over most of the South American governments, but his direct power was exercised over Lima, Charcas and Quito, since they were territories without a political governor.

Its rapid and strong boom was largely due to the discovery and subsequent extraction of precious metals from the Cerro de Potosí. The Viceroyalty of Peru lost its validity in 1824, its last holder being the Peruvian José de la Serna.

Organization of Peruvian society during the viceroyalty

Viceroyalty of Peru in 1650 - Source: Daniel Py, via Wikimedia Commons From the viceroyalty, Peruvian society was divided into groups that differed in traits, origins, privileges and opportunities. Namely:

Spanish people

All those Spaniards who arrived in Peru during the conquest and their direct descendants, entered this group. The latter also received the denomination of Creole or American Spanish.

They had the possibility of buying public office since, legally, they were prohibited from accessing them.

Indians

Here all the indigenous nobility were located. The Incas descended from the Cuzco elite and the royal panacas. Also the descendants of the coastal and Andean tribes. This group had the power to trade tax-free and high-demand products.

They could also learn grammar and science in the special colleges the crown created for them. They were also evangelized there. The natives who did not belong to the nobility, had to pay viceregal tributes.

During the Viceroyalty of Peru, Catholic missionaries used the Quechua language and other indigenous languages ​​to evangelize the Indians. In this way his influence on them was greater and stronger.

However, this attempt at empathy did not prevent the emergence of resistance to this and other colonizing practices. This is evidenced by the rebellious episodes of Túpac Katari, Túpac Amaru II and Tomás Catari.

Slaves

As in the rest of colonized America, the black population became the preferred workforce of plantation and farm owners.

The activities to which they dedicated themselves were as varied as the fate with which they ran as slaves.

Mixed race

The mestizos managed to insert themselves into society throughout the 12th century and held minor positions as craftsmen or servants.

Professionals, religious and artisans

This segment mainly included civil and religious university professors. These teachers received privileges because they commonly served as counselors in various administrative units.

Among these groups there were mixtures that gave rise to the formation of other racial subgroups: mulatto (the result of the union of black and white); zambo (from the crossing of Indian and Negro); and Indian cholo (from the union of a mestizo with an Indian).

Castes during the viceroyalty of Peru

Castes consist of the division of classes according to an economic criterion. Although it also attends to a differentiation of skin color, skills, culture, work capacities and habits.

In this sense, there were three castes:

• Manorial.
• Plebeian: it was a caste made up of mestizos and poor whites. They did not hold public office but they energized the economy through trade, industry and crafts.
• Servant-slave: made up of blacks, common Indians and slaves. They worked under exploitative conditions and paid taxes.

Distribution of power in the viceroyalty of Peru

The political organization was very similar in all the viceroyalties that were established in America. Here is an overview of the power hierarchies that operated at the time:

In Spain

• The king of Spain, represented the maximum power.
• The Council of the Indies, whose function was to govern and administer the colonies of the Spanish crown in the field of government, military, judicial and financial.

In America

• The Viceroy was appointed by the King and personally represented his authority. He exercised full authority in the territories to which he was assigned.
• The Audiences: they imparted justice to the interior of the viceroyalties.
• The townships: local authorities of the viceroyalties from where taxes were collected. They were suppressed in 1782.
• The municipalities: they were created to replace the townships. They were directed by a mayor appointed by the king. The Viceroyalty of Peru had 8 municipalities.
• The councils: exercised the municipal government.

Audiences of the Viceroyalty of Peru

In this viceroyalty the following Audiences functioned:

• Audience of Lima
• Audience of Panama
• Audience of Santa Fe de Bogotá
• Quito audience
• Audience of Charcas
• Audience of Chile
• Audience of Buenos Aires

The economy in the viceroyalty of Peru

Mining was the mainstay of the economy in the Peruvian viceregal era. They were marketed to Europe generating wealth that led to better urban planning.

Thanks to European technology, the way of doing agriculture and livestock was transformed. In addition, new items appeared such as wheat, vine and garlic; as well as farm animals.

The obrajes, or textile manufacturing workshops, were born.

Themes of interest

What is the Viceroyalty Society?

References

1. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Viceroyalties. The Viceroyalty of Peru. Recovered from: uc.cl.
2. Gonzales, Aníbal (2010). Political organization of the Viceroyalty. Recovered from: historiacultural.com.
3. Pizarro, Mariclau (2015). The viceregal society in Peru. Recovered from: prezi.com
4. The Popular (2016). The Viceroyalty of Peru and its social organization. Recovered from: elpopular.pe.
5. San Pablo Catholic University (2015). "The viceroyalty was fundamental in the process of what it is today…" Recovered from: ucsp.edu.pe.
6. Peruvian history (s / f). The economy in the viceroyalty of Peru. Recovered from: historiaperuana.pe.
7. Viceroyalties and audiences (2009). The social organization of the viceroyalty. Recovered from: virreinatosyaudiencias.blogspot.co.id.