Meaning of castes of the new spain (what they are, concept and definition)

What are Breeds of New Spain:

The expression caste of New Spain refers to the classification of interracial mixtures in the colonial period (between whites, Indians and blacks), from which the attribution of duties and rights derived according to the degree of blood purity. Therefore, in Hispanic America the concept of castes applied only to the descendants of interracial unions.

What were the castes in New Spain?

In New Spain there were many classifications of the caste system. As a general rule, there used to be consensus on how to call the main castes (mestizos, castizos, Spaniards, mulattos and Moors), since they were clearly represented in official documents.

However, starting from the sixth caste, the various classifications reveal the lack of consensus in the language. The differences are reflected not only from region to region but according to the historical moment.

One of the most widespread classifications of the caste system in Mexico derives from an anonymous painting made in the 18th century, in which a total of sixteen New Hispanic castes are established. Let's see.

Caste painting. Anonymous from the 18th century. New Spain.

1. Mestizo: Spanish with Indian Castizo: mestizo Spanish Spanish: castizo with Spanish Mulato: Spanish Overdue (black) Morisco: Mulatto with Spanish Chinese: morisco with Spanish Sata ago: Chinese with Indian Wolf: jumps back with mulatta Gíbaro or jíbaro: wolf with china Albarazado: gíbaro (jíbaro) with mulatto Cambujo: albarazado with black Sambaigo (zambaigo): cambujo with india Calpamulato: sambaigo with she-wolf Tente in the air: calpamulato with cambuja I don't understand you: stay in the air with mulata Torna behind: no I understand you with india

The painter Miguel Cabrera also represented the caste system in his works. The classification he collects in his series of 1763 is as follows (note the differences from the previous classification):

Miguel Cabrera: 1. From Spanish to India: mestizo . 1793. Oil on canvas.

1. Mestizo: Spanish and Indian Castizo: Spanish and mestizo Spanish: Spanish and Castilian Mulatto: Spanish and black Moorish: Spanish and mulatto Albino: Spanish and Moorish Torna back: Spanish and albino Tente in the air: Spanish and torna back Chinese cambujo: black and India Wolf: Chinese Cambujo and India Albarazado: Wolf and India Barcino: Albarazado and Mestizo Zambuigua: Indian and Barcina Chamizo: Castizo and Mestizo Coyote: Mestizo and India Gentile Indians

From the painter Andrés de Islas, this classification from the year 1774 is known:

André de Islas: Mulatto is born from Spanish and black . 1774. Oil on canvas.

1. Mestizo: Spanish and Indian Castizo: Spanish and mestizo Spanish: Castizo and Spanish Mulatto: Spanish and black Moorish: Spanish and mulatto Albino: Spanish and Moorish Torna Back: Spanish and albino Wolf: Indian and black Coyote: Indian and mestizo Chinese: wolf and Black Cambujo: Chinese and Indian Tente in the air: Cambujo and India Albarazado: Tente in the air and mulatto Barcino: Albarazado and India Calpamulato: Barcino and Cambuja Indian barbarian mecos

Another of the classifications of the colonial caste system, eventually in force in both New Spain and South America, is as follows:

1. Criollo: Europeans in America Mestizo: Spanish and indigenous Castizo, castizo cuatralb o o cuarterón Mestizo: Spanish with mestizo Spanish: castizo with Spanish Zambo or Jarocho: Indian with black prieto Zambo: black with zambo Mulato: Spanish with black Morisco (unlike Moriscos peninsulares) or cuarterón de mulata: mulatto with Spanish Albino or octavón: Spanish with Moorish Jump back or skip: albino with Spanish Apiñonado: mestizo with mulatto Cholo, coyote or meslindio: indigenous with mestizo Chinese or dark mulatum: mulatto with indigenous Galfarro: mulatto with black Harnizo: Spanish with cholo Harnizo: castizo with mestizo Chamizo or chamiso: coyote with indigenous Coyote mestizo: chamizo with mestizo Cambujo: Chinese with indigenous Lobo: jump back with mulatto Gíbaro or jíbaro: wolf with Chinese Albarazado: gíbaro with mulato Cambujo: Albarazado con negro Sambaigo: cambujo with indigenous Campamulato: sambaigo with wolf Tente in the air: campamulato with cambujo I don't understand you: tempt in the air with mulatto Torna behind: I don't understand you with india

Along with this classification, expressions such as thirds, quarters, or quinterons (and successive) were also used to name those people who appeared to be white, but who carried a third, fourth, or fifth of black or indigenous blood.

See also:

• Discovery of America. Conquest of America. Colonization.

Origin of the castes in New Spain

Before arriving in America, Spanish society used the concept of caste to distinguish "old Christians" from "new Christians" (Jews and converted Moors). When they arrived in America, they associated it with miscegenation, that is, with the mixing of races. Let's see how it happened.

In its broadest sense, the social groups of New Spain and Latin America were made up of Spanish whites who, as the dominant elite, occupied the apex of the social pyramid. Behind them were the creole whites (sons of Spaniards born in America); the indigenous people (native settlers of the continent) and the blacks (slaves brought from Africa). The interrelation between all would result in a new, particularly complex, broad group: the mestizos.

In an interracial society dominated by Spaniards but with little presence of Spanish women, miscegenation was favored and was soon justified under the ideological principle of cleaning and bleaching of blood.

It was believed that the mixing of whites with indigenous people could eventually result in the formation of a "white" offspring. Blacks, who were blamed for "smearing" the race, were excluded from this belief.

Therefore, the hierarchy of the castes in New Spain and Latin America was defined by virtue of the degree of Spanish blood, that is, by virtue of the "purity" of the descendants of interracial unions. The higher the degree of purity (Spanish blood), the more rights; to a lesser degree, reduced rights. Thus was created the colonial caste system.

Caste painting

Ignacio María Barreda: The Mexican Castes . 1777. Oil on canvas.

In the 18th century, a pictorial genre emerged in Latin America, especially in New Spain, called caste painting, in which the castes of colonial society were represented.

In these paintings you could see father, mother and son, as well as clothing, food and trades characteristic of each caste. Even temperament or character traits were also attributed to the characters represented, which often accentuated social prejudices based on race and gender.