POPULATION GROWTH AND FLOURISHING OF CITIES - HISTORY - 2025

The growth of the population and flourishing of the cities in New Spain was supported by the wealth of precious metals in the region and was favored by the urban character of the Spanish colonization. Given the careful control of the state, the founding of cities accomplished several purposes.

One of these purposes is that it ensured the occupation of the territory and served as the basis for subsequent conquests. In addition, it implied a permanent presence and became a sign of occupation. The arrival of Hernán Cortés to Aztec lands was a decisive chapter in the history of New Spain, now Mexico.

On April 21, 1519, a fleet of 11 galleons reached the island of San Juan de Ulúa. 550 Spanish soldiers and sailors disembarked from its interior, as well as 16 horses. This would be Europe's first contact with one of the most advanced Mesoamerican civilizations.

Then, a period of political, economic and social domination began. Later they began to build cities in the European way. The populations of the different races that converged there began to grow and mix, thus contributing to the growth of the population and the flourishing of the cities of New Spain.

First stage of population and city growth

After the fall of the Aztec Empire and the capture of its ruler Cuauhtémoc (1521), Cortés founded Mexico City. This foundation was made on the ruins of the once majestic Tenochtitlán.

A European-style colonial capital began to be erected. The growth of the population and flourishing of the cities of New Spain took place on the rubble of the pyramids, temples and destroyed Aztec palaces.

In 1535 Antonio de Mendoza was named as the first of the 61 viceroys who ruled New Spain for the next three centuries. In this period the colonial territories continued to grow.

Eventually they spread south to Honduras, north to what is now Kansas and east of present-day New Orleans. Territorial expansion led to the exploitation of natural wealth; With this new wealth, colonial cities arose throughout the region.

Indian stonemasons

In this context, the Indian stonemasons, who once built temples and pyramids, came into action. They built chapels, cathedrals, monasteries, convents, as well as administrative palaces and large residences for the Spanish.

The skill of those native hands was key in the growth of the population and flourishing of the cities in New Spain.

The native population and post-Conquest settlements

There is consensus among specialists that the 16th century was a demographic disaster for Mesoamericans. It is estimated that, at the arrival of the Spaniards, the native population was about 25 to 30 million inhabitants. According to conservative figures, the percentage of population decline was at least 25%.

As the Conquest progressed, the natives were forced to change their dispersed pattern of settlement, as more compact settlements facilitated political, economic, and religious control of the Spanish.

In this way new European-style villages and towns were founded. From there, censuses, baptisms and funeral records attest to the growth of the population and flourishing of the cities.

Native recovery

In the middle of the 17th century the recovery of the native population began. This was accompanied by a great mix of people of different ethnic-racial origins.

Population growth increased the level of human needs. New dispensaries, churches, driveways, and cemeteries were built to serve these needs.

With this increase, schools, supply stores and craft shops were also appearing. Organized settlements attracted even more population.

Influence of economic growth on population growth

In the 17th century, New Spain stood out as one of the world's leading suppliers of silver and other mining products. As early as the middle of the previous century, New Spain had a transatlantic trade system.

Through this system, precious metals were sent to Spain in exchange for European products. In addition, spices, silks and varied merchandise of Asian origin were mobilized.

In this way, the commercial flow favored the growth of a mercantile class both in Spain and in New Spain, which implied that a firm political and administrative stability was generated.

This wealth contributed greatly to population growth and the flourishing of cities. Large contingents of Indians were incorporated into the work of the mines.

Decrease in trade with Spain

In the last two thirds of the seventeenth century, trade with Spain fell due to internal problems. New Spanish cities began to become economically self-sufficient, producing what was previously exported.

New Hispanic merchants monopolized trade with the Philippines. These provided credit to the miners to continue working, allowing for economic transformation and social change.

Thus, the northern populations, previously isolated and depopulated, became territories of continuous colonization due to the impulse of mining.

The distance between these new populated centers and the food supplying areas promoted the creation of production and supply centers close to the mining areas. With this, the flourishing of these regions was consolidated.

Population explosion of the 18th century

The growth of the New Spain population was sustained throughout the three centuries that the Spanish occupation lasted. Especially the mining industry largely contributed to this population increase.

For example, between 1550 and 1570 the population of the Pachuca mining district experienced a 500% increase. In 1578, this district had thousands of inhabitants, who depended on mining activities.

Outbreak of the insurgency

The largest population explosion in New Spain occurred from the mid-18th century until 1810, when the insurgency broke out. The figures provided by Alexander von Humboldt, although unofficial, may serve as a guide.

According to this German explorer, the population of New Spain was seven million. Of these, 3,700,000 were Indians, 1,200,000 were white, and almost 2,000,000 were mestizo.

Likewise, Mexico City was the largest of the American cities. This city had 113,000 inhabitants. Other important cities in the American continent such as Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro or Havana barely had 50,000 inhabitants.

References

1. Cortés Rocha, X. (2016). The origins of New Spain urbanism. Taken from postgraduate.unam.mx.
2. Tanck de Estrada, D. (s / f). Indigenous education in the 18th century. Taken from biblioweb.tic.unam.mx.
3. Gale Encyclopedia of US Economic History. (s / f). New Spain, Viceroyalty of. Taken from encyclopedia.com.
4. Palfrey, DH (1998, November 01). The settlement of New Spain: Mexico's Colonial era. Taken from mexconnect.com.
5. McCaa, R. (1998, December 8). The Peopling of Mexico from Origins to Revolution Taken from pop.umn.edu.
6. Delgado, G. (2006). Mexico history. Mexico: Pearson Education.
7. Chiva Beltrán, J. (2012). The triumph of the viceroy. Novohispanic glories: origin, apogee and decline of the viceregal entrance. Castelló de la Plana: Publications of the Universitat Jaume I.
8. Canudas, E. (2005). The veins of silver in the history of Mexico: synthesis of economic history, XIX century. Villahermosa: Autonomous Juárez University of Tabasco.