Conquest and colonization in the Colombian Choco, 1510-1740
During the eighteenth century, the ChocĂł became an area of great importance to the Viceroyalty of New Granada. The region's sources of precious metal not only contributed to the economic recovery of the neighbouring cities of the Cauca Valley, but also enriched immensely the individual owners of the ChocĂŽ's mines and slaves gangs, the merchants who traded with them, and the royal officials and priests who served there. Despite the region's economic importance, it remained badly underdeveloped: a combination of climate and terrain discouraged Spanish settlement. While Spaniards were not attracted to the ChocĂŽ f or the purpose of settlement, slaves were nevertheless introduced in large numbers to exploit its gold deposits, and these were supported by the labour of the region's native inhabitants. This thesis will show, however, that it took the Spaniards nearly 300 years effectively to bring the ChocĂł under Crown control. Although the region had been known since the earliest days of conquest - Balboa, Almagro, and Pizarro had been among the first to explore the area - Indian resistance prevented the Spaniards from establishing a firm and lasting foothold in Indian territory until the 1660s. By the 1670s,
Hansen, Caroline Anne
F1201 Latin America (General)
Conquest and colonization in the Colombian Choco, 1510-1740. During the eighteenth century, the ChocĂł became an area of great importance to the Viceroyalty of New Granada. The region's sources of precious metal not only contributed to the economic recovery of the neighbouring cities of the Cauca Valley, but also enriched immensely the individual owners of the ChocĂŽ's mines and slaves gangs, the merchants who traded with them, and the royal officials and priests who served there. Despite the region's economic importance, it remained badly underdeveloped: a combination of climate and terrain discouraged Spanish settlement. While Spaniards were not attracted to the ChocĂŽ f or the purpose of settlement, slaves were nevertheless introduced in large numbers to exploit its gold deposits, and these were supported by the labour of the region's native inhabitants. This thesis will show, however, that it took the Spaniards nearly 300 years effectively to bring the ChocĂł under Crown control. Although the region had been known since the earliest days of conquest - Balboa, Almagro, and Pizarro had been among the first to explore the area - Indian resistance prevented the Spaniards from establishing a firm and lasting foothold in Indian territory until the 1660s. By the 1670s,
conquest colonization colombian become area great_importance viceroyalty new region source precious_metal contribute economic recovery neighbour city valley also enrich individual owner mine slave gang merchant trade royal official priests serve there despite region economic importance remain badly underdeveloped combination climate terrain discourage spanish settlement spaniards attract purpose settlement slave nevertheless introduce large_number exploit gold deposit support labour region native inhabitant show however take spaniards effectively bring crown control although region know since conquest among first_explore area indian resistance prevent spaniards establish firm last indian territory