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The Role Of Race And Class In Spanish Society

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Race and class was a significant part within Spanish society. The Spanish constructed a society and used race as a foundation on how to view individual people. They used this system to protect their superiority over the Indians. However, the introduction of and interracial relations and blacks challenged the social structure the Spanish put in place. To counter the changing social circumstances the Spanish used a variety of ways to project their superiority over the cast. In the instance of Pobla, the elite maintained order over the lower classes through culture. The local elite would encourage civic pride towards the city, and thereby create social obedience. Intellects, priests, and pious lay people would encourage honor for their city, from the Spanish elite down to the common people. The dwellers within the city “typically understood cities as extended families, with regidores and the alcalde mayor acting like stand-in father figures for the king.” Regardless of economic status, …show more content…

The cabildo was a council and “took advantage of the feast day to showcase its authority.” They viewed the festival as an important day to demonstrate power as all people participated in the festivities. The ceremonies and festivals “characterized authority of the cabildo…. And allowed city leaders to position themselves at the head of a community…” This display of authority was so pivotal to the cabildo they annually contributed fast amounts of money to conduct the festival. In the first few decades of the eighteenth century, they continued to fund the ceremony despite suffering from a severe economic crisis. It is most apparent the appearance of superiority was vital for the Spanish elite; the example of them funding a festival in an economic hardship, instead of allocating the funds for a more substantial venture proved their desire to maintain control over the lower

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