COLONIA IN CHILE: CHARACTERISTICS, SOCIETY, ECONOMY - HISTORY - 2024

The Colony in Chile is the historical period that extends from 1610 to 1810, when the independence struggle began and the First Governing Board was installed. This period includes the installation and consolidation process of the Captaincy General of Chile.

The colonial period began just after the conquest of Chile by the Spanish after the battle of Curalaba in 1598. It was characterized by the introduction of a system of domination and exploitation that encompassed the political, economic and social-cultural spheres.

Santiago Foundation

Chilean colonial society was stratified into social classes that were mutually exclusive, headed by the Spanish aristocracy. The economy was initially based on the exploitation of the rich gold deposits, agriculture, livestock and trade.

Agricultural production and the exploitation of precious metals were carried out under the system of land grants and encomiendas, through the slave labor of the indigenous people. During the colonial period Chile was a captaincy general led by a governor and captain general, appointed directly by the king of Spain.

However, it depended administratively on the viceroyalty of Peru and had government, military and economic powers. The Colony in Chile ended with the installation of the First National Government Board, on September 18, 1810, which opened the floodgates to the independence process of this territory.

General characteristics

- It was a society divided into castes or social classes with a very marked exclusionary character. The social pyramid was presided over by the Spanish aristocracy (peninsular whites), followed by Creole whites, sons of Spaniards, mestizos (sons of whites and indigenous people), blacks and natives.

- The colonial period and Chilean society as such developed mainly in the central area of ​​the country, since the north of Chile (Atacama) was a desert and uninhabited territory. On the other hand, in the south, the Mapuche Indians kept most of the colony fighting for the defense of their territory.

- The territory of the Captaincy General of Chile was divided into provinces, which were governed by corregidores with the same powers as the governor. Then there were the cities and their councils made up of representatives of the Spanish neighbors for the defense of their interests.

- After the political and administrative reforms of the colonies introduced by the Bourbons in the 18th century, the municipalities emerged. In that period the municipalities of La Concepción and Santiago were created.

- The government of the island of Chiloé became dependent on the viceroyalty of Peru; instead, the town of Cuyo was transferred to the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata.

- According to historians, in the early years of Chilean colonial society there was a generalized sense of isolation, mainly due to the remoteness of the main cities of the Spanish kingdom in America. It was a territory located "at the end of the world", between high mountain ranges and seas.

- Education had a class character too, as it was only for children from rich families; It was taught by Catholic priests. The teaching was based on the classical arts, the study of Spanish, Latin, philosophy, mathematics, medicine, law and theology.

Society

The Chilean colonial period covered all areas of life during its duration of more than 200 years; that is to say, sociocultural, economic and political.

Sociocultural

The social stratification of Chile during the Colony was one of its main characteristics. The dominant social class was made up of the peninsular Spaniards, first the conquerors and colonizers. Then, by the aristocracy formed by the officials sent by the Crown.

These officials held the most important administrative and military positions in the government. In this social group there were also some Creoles and a very small group of wealthy mestizos, owners of haciendas and commercial houses in the city. They also used to be members of the council.

In the middle class social class were the wealthy Spaniards and Creoles and the mestizos, and in the last social group, which occupied the base of the pyramid, were the popular sectors.

It was the lower social class made up of miners, peasants, vendors, artisans, servants, etc., of mestizo descent. This group included blacks and indigenous people.

The participation of the Catholic Church directly in economic, political and educational matters, in addition to religious ones, had a determining role in the formation of Chilean society.

The Church developed an intense evangelizing process for the natives through the different religious orders: Franciscans (the first to arrive), Jesuits, Dominicans, Augustinians and Mercedarians. It was a very conservative Catholic society.

Economy

Mining

The Chilean colonial economy revolved mainly around the exploitation of mining in the gold laundries, through the abundant indigenous labor available. Until 1580 the most important gold laundries were in the south; for example, those of La Imperial, Valdivia, Osorno, Villarrica and Quilacoya.

The destruction of the main laundries after the Curalaba disaster in 1598 and the shortage of manpower led the Spanish to establish the institution of the encomienda. It consisted of the right to exploit a good in exchange for a service paid for with work or in kind.

As the Indians had to pay a tribute to the Crown for their status as subjects and they did not have money or property, then they paid with work in the laundry. The payment of the tribute of the natives was administered by the encomendero who was in charge of them (in theory, they had to protect them, evangelize them, clothe them and give them food).

The encomienda was a grant for two lives (for the holder and his heir) granted by the king to the Spanish, who collected them on his behalf. The encomiendas and the land grants (land title) were given in order to stimulate the colonization and settlement of territories.

Subsequently, when the rich silver deposits were discovered in Potosí (Peru), Chile benefited downstream from the transportation and export of the mineral.

Agriculture and Livestock

Agricultural practices had already been established by the Incas in Chilean territory before the arrival of the Spanish. The natives planted potatoes, corn, and quinoa, as well as chili peppers and other products. The Spanish introduced fruit trees and wheat, which would be one of the main agricultural items during the Colony.

Likewise, cattle, horses, pigs, goats, sheep and chickens were introduced, which had a rapid adaptation. Throughout the sixteenth century and subsequent centuries, mining, agriculture and livestock grew and became the economic base of the Captaincy General of Chile.

The cattle activity in the first century under the colonial regime was preponderant. The main export products were tallow to make candles and leather, which was treated and transformed in Peru.

Commerce

Chile's colonial trade with the other Spanish colonies in America and the European metropolis prospered during this period. Chilean ports became very important supply points for Spanish galleons coming and going from Europe.

Chile received Potosí's silver production and, in turn, supplied Peru with cereals, dried fruits, wine and brandy, meat, leather, tallow and other products. The trade of these products of agricultural and livestock origin was the basis of the first fortunes during the Colony in Chile.

Political

The highest authority in the colony was the governor and captain general, who was supervised in turn by the viceroy of Peru. However, it had the same powers and powers.

During the validity of the Royal Court of Chile, whose periods range from 1565 to 1817, the governor also held the title of president of this highest court.

The governor was, on the one hand, political and administrative chief, and in his role as captain general he was a military commander. This dual role was largely due to the prolongation of the Arauco War.

Regarding the administrative political division, in the last stage of the Colony in Chile the territory was divided into townships. They were administrative territories smaller than the provinces, governed by the corregidores by delegation of the governor.

Prominent figures

Most of the governors of Chile were later viceroys of Peru in retribution for their merits and service to the Spanish Crown. The governors and most important figures of Chile during the Colony were:

García Hurtado de Mendoza y Manrique (1556-1561)

He was a Spanish military man who held the title of Marquis of Cañete. He was born in Cuenca on July 21, 1535 and died in Madrid on February 4, 1609. After occupying the position of Governor of Chile, he was appointed viceroy of Peru (1589 and 1596).

José Antonio Manso de Velasco (1737 and 1744)

He held the title of Count of Superunda. Manso de Velasco y Sánchez de Samaniego was born in 1688 in Torrecilla en Cameros and died in Priego de Córdoba in 1767. He was a Spanish politician and military man who became the 30th viceroy of Peru. He was Governor of Chile and later Viceroy of Peru, between 1745 and 1761.

Manuel de Amat and Juniet (1755 - 1761)

He was born in Barcelona in 1704 and died in that same city on February 14, 1782. He was a military and viceregal administrator who held the title of Marquis of Castellbell. Between 1755 and 1761 he was Governor of Chile and later, between 1761 and 1776, Viceroy of Peru.

Agustín de Jáuregui y Aldecoa (1780-1784)

Military and politician born in Lecároz, Navarra on May 7, 1711, who died in Lima on April 29, 1784. After being governor of Chile, he was appointed viceroy of Peru in 1780.

During his government, the Captaincy General of Chile was divided and the province of Cuyo became part of the Viceroyalty of Río de la Plata (1776).

Ambrosio O'Higgins (1788-1796)

Military and politician of Irish origin who, after occupying the government of Chile, was appointed viceroy of Peru between 1796 and 1801. He held the titles of Marquis of Osorno, Marquis of Vallenar and Baron of Ballenary. He was the father of the hero of the Independence of Chile, Bernardo O'Higgins.

Gabriel de Avilés y del Fierro (1796-1799)

He was born in Barcelona, ​​Spain, in 1735 and died in Valparaíso in 1810. This Spanish military and politician was the 4th Marquis of Avilés. He served as Governor of Chile between 1796 and 1799, and then as Viceroy of the Río de la Plata between 1799 and 1801. Later, between 1801 and 1806, he held the Viceroyalty of Peru.

Joaquín del Pino Sánchez de Rozas (1801-1804)

He was born in Baena de Córdoba, Spain, on January 20, 1729, and died in Buenos Aires on April 11, 1804. He was a Spanish military, engineer and politician, who after being governor of Chile was appointed viceroy of Río de la Silver, between 1801 and 1804.

References

1. History of Chile: First period: Construction of a mestizo identity. The Colonial Economic System. Consulted of biografiadechile.cl.
2. The Colony in Chile. Consulted of portaleducativo.net
3. Colonial economy. Consulted of icarito.cl
4. Colonial Chile. Consulted of es.wikipedia.org
5. Captaincy General of Chile. Consulted of lhistoria.com
6. Governors of Chile (1540-1810). Consulted of memoriachilena.cl