The Viceroyalty of Mexico lasted three centuries, from 1521 to 1821. This period began with the conquest of Mexican territory by Hernán Cortés, and culminated with the Declaration of Independence of Mexico, exactly 300 years later.
The Mexican Colony is usually divided into four periods of study that span from the 16th century to 1821. These stages are:
- The first period covers everything that happened in the territory of New Spain in the 16th century, from the taking of Mexico in Tenochtitlán in 1521, until the year 1600.
- The second period corresponds to the seventeenth century, between 1601 and 1700.
- The third period refers to the 18th century, from 1701 to 1800.
- And the fourth and last period, called the transition period, includes from 1801 until the consolidation of Mexican independence, in 1821.
During the Viceroyalty of Mexico, this country was commanded by a representative of the King of Spain who had the title of viceroy.
Throughout the 300-year duration of the viceroyalty, 63 viceroys ruled the Mexicans on behalf of the Spanish sovereign.
The viceroyalty was carried out as a system of indirect dominion, in which power was exercised through the chiefs of each tribe. Hence the importance of the active participation of indigenous leaders within the political and economic structure of the viceroyalty.
In turn, to administer the authority of the indigenous chiefs, the figure of the encomendero was established. This position was carried out by the Spanish conquerors, who were located in the conquered territories, and were in charge of collecting taxes on behalf of the viceroy.
For each one of the ancient indigenous lordships a commission was instituted. The encomenderos had two main duties.
The first consisted of keeping indigenous peoples at bay, in the face of possible threats of riots. On the other hand, the encomenderos were also in charge of the process of evangelization of the indigenous peoples.
The Viceroyalty of Mexico became the wealthiest political jurisdiction of the American possessions of Spain. Its borders gradually expanded from central Mexico, towards the Yucatan Peninsula and Florida, including Central America and northern South America.
At the political, economic and demographic center of this vast colony was the Basin of Mexico, at the center of which was Mexico City, built on the ruins of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán.
Among the most productive activities of the Viceroyalty of Mexico, the mining centers of San Luis de Potosí, Guanajuato and Hidalgo stood out. There were also centers for the export of wealth in the island territories of the viceroyalty.
The development of Mexican art and culture in each of the centuries of the viceroyalty is equally remarkable.
The artistic samples of this period reflect vestiges of the lifestyle of the inhabitants of the Mexican colony at that time: their customs, gastronomic tastes, clothing and artistic expressions through painting and sculpture.
References
- Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. (2017) London, England. Viceroyalty of New Spain. Recovered from: britannica.com
- Viceroyalty of New Spain (2011). Epic World History Blog. Recovered from: epicworldhistory.blogspot.com.