Colonial Latin America: Family and Society

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to the themes of family, society, and the implications of colonialism in Latin America.

Primogeniture

The right of the firstborn child to inherit the entirety of a parent's estate.

Culture of Honour

A set of social norms that values masculine strength and the honor of the family or community, often leading to a preoccupation with reputation.

Patriarchy

A social system in which men hold primary power and dominance over women and children.

Hacienda

A large estate or plantation in Spanish-speaking regions, often used for agriculture or farming.

Matriarchy

A social system in which women hold primary power, particularly in roles of leadership and moral authority.

Alcalde

A Spanish term for mayor or a local magistrate, often in charge of enforcing the law.

Dowry

A transfer of parental property, wealth, or goods at the marriage of a daughter.

African Slave Trade

The transatlantic trading of enslaved African people, which was a key aspect of colonial economies.

Mestizo

A person of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry in Latin America.

Casas de recogimiento

Institutions established in colonial Latin America for the care and education of women, often with a reformative purpose.

Mayorazgo

A legal instrument establishing that an estate is to be inherited by the firstborn male.

Cédulas de gracias al sacar

Royal decrees that granted privileges to individuals or groups, often related to land or property rights.

Marianismo

An ideology centered on the veneration of women as virtuous and pure, often associated with traditional gender roles in Latin American cultures.

Machismo

A strong or aggressive masculine pride, often associated with traditional Spanish and Latin American culture.

Limpieza de sangre

A legal and social status in colonial Spain and its territories that determined a person's purity of blood in relation to their Jewish, Moorish, or other non-Christian ancestry.

Encomendero

A Spanish colonist in charge of a group of Indigenous people, having the right to extract labor and tribute in exchange for protection and Christianization.

Cacique

A local Indigenous chief or leader in colonial Spanish America.

Caudillo

A military or political leader, often used to describe authoritarian leaders in Latin America.