MORAL AND POLITICAL DILEMMAS OF COLONIALISM

I. Introduction: Review Encomienda

A. How well meet the goals of the Crown?

1. Political/Administrative: 1st line of defense, but too independent?
2. Economic: effective, but unevenly distributed
3. Religious: least effective

B. Growing Controversy among Spaniards

II. Native Responses

A. Spanish encomenderos dependent upon cooperation of Indigenous leaders (combination of coercion and reward)

1. Kurakas in Andes know resources and labor practices (e.g. Don Melchior Caruarayco)
2. Silk production in Mexico, profits to both encomendero and indigenous community
3. Paraguay: encomienda adapted to Guarani society: polygamy and kin of wives provide labor

a. frontier even more backwater than Yucatan
b. alliances with Guarani led to racial and cultural mixing

B. Crisis

1. demographic squeeze: fewer laborers to meet demands
2. kinds of demands changed (e.g. sent to work in mines)
3. deepening of colonial relationships with chiefs (from cooperation to subordination)

C. Resistance

1. Mexico: Natives stop producing silk, destroyed trees
2. Peru: Taqui Onqoy, 1560s (see Andrien, 168-71), aimed at Spaniards and collaborating kurakas
3. Paraguay: Guarani “wives” and mestizo sons prevent rebellion; few resources over which to fight

III. Great Debate: Bartolome de las Casas and Juan Gines de Sepulveda

IV. Political Applications

A. Gradual Extension of Royal Power

1. New Laws (1542)

a. End AmerIndian Slavery: not enforced on frontiers where resistance ongoing
b. More standardization (tribute rates, labor rules)
c . End inheritance of encomiendas

2. Rebellions: Gonzalo Pizarro (1544)

3. Gradual implementation of New Laws

a. extend inheritance for another generation
b. 1549: end labor privilege in encomienda and begin collecting tribute and distributing to encomenderos
c . gradual growth of royal bureaucracy

4. Guaman Poma's view of the colonial bureaucracy

Questions:

What were the conflicting opinions on the nature of the “Indians” and the rights of Spanish Sovereignty?

How did conflicts over the encomienda get resolved?

I.D. Terms:

New Laws (1542)
Gonzalo Pizarro
Francisco de Toledo
Council of Indies
Viceroy
Audiencia
Corregidor

Other Guaman Poma Images:

Map of Tawantinsuyu
Inca and the Four Lords (center position)
Guaman Poma interviewing elders
Abuse of Andean
Gender complementarity in Inca Period (proper diagonal)
Guaman Poma and King
The Pope, the King and Guaman Poma
Abusive Spanish Officials
Pious Christian Andeans
Andeans practicing Christian Charity

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