Town in the Empire : : Government, Politics, and Society in Seventeenth Century Popayán / / Peter Marzahl.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter University of Texas Press Complete eBook-Package Pre-2000
• VerfasserIn: Marzahl, Peter,
• Place / Publishing House: Austin : : University of Texas Press, , [2021]; ©1979
• Year of Publication: 2021
• Language: English
• Series: LLILAS Latin American Monograph Series
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (242 p.)

During the seventeenth century, many of the fundamental characteristics of Spanish America were established. Peter Marzahl adds significantly to our understanding of this period with this study of Popayán, a town in what was then part of New Granada and is now Colombia. New Granada was something of a backwater of the empire, but very likely Popayán was more typical of everyday colonial life than the major centers that have drawn most attention from historians. In the first part of his study, Marzahl describes both town and region, depicts economic activities (agriculture, gold mining, trade), and analyzes urban and rural society. Of particular interest is his discussion of the complex interaction among the different ethnic groups: Spaniards, Mestizos, Indians, and Blacks. In the longer second part he presents a detailed account of the makeup and operations of the town councils. His extensive research in primary sources makes possible a thorough examination of Popayán's administration and politics and their relationship to economic and social patterns. He also describes the councils' relations with the provincial governors, the viceregal authorities in Bogotá, and the Church. Because this study treats a neglected period and region and, in so doing, offers fresh materials and insights, it is an important contribution to our knowledge and comprehension of colonial Spanish America.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Maps -- Tables -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 1. Province and Town -- 2. Estates, Mines, and Commerce -- 3. Spaniards, Indians, and Negroes -- 4. Cabildo Government -- 5. Settler Affairs -- 6. Offices and Officeholders -- 7. The Governorship and the Treasury -- 8. Imperial Control -- 9. The Church and the Settlers -- Conclusion -- Appendices -- Notes -- Glossary -- Bibliography -- Index