ACTIVIDADES ECONOMICAS DE LA NUEVA ESPAÑA 💰 ¿Cómo se hacía Fortuna durante el Virreinato 🌎

Summary

The video script explores the diverse economic activities in New Spain, focusing on mining, agriculture, livestock, and obrajes (workshops). Mining, particularly silver extraction, was the most profitable for the Spanish crown, with indigenous labor playing a key role. The agricultural exchange between the Old and New Worlds led to the rapid cultivation of European crops, while livestock like cattle and pigs transformed the economy and diet. Obrajes, created to produce wool textiles, exploited indigenous and African workers. The script highlights the cultural fusion, especially in food, resulting from the interaction of Spanish, indigenous, African, and Asian influences, forming a unique mestizo identity.

Takeaways

• 😀 The economy of New Spain was diverse, with mining, agriculture, livestock, and obrajes being key activities.
• 😀 Mining was the most profitable activity for the Spanish crown, with significant discoveries of precious metals in regions like Guanajuato, Zacatecas, and San Luis Potosí.
• 😀 Indigenous people were crucial in mining, often forced to work with hazardous mercury, which led to many deaths but also some economic benefits for non-slave workers.
• 😀 Bartolomé de Medina revolutionized mining with the patio system, which used mercury to extract silver more efficiently, though it had deadly consequences for laborers.
• 😀 Agriculture in New Spain saw the introduction of European crops like wheat, sugar cane, rice, and coffee, alongside Mesoamerican staples such as corn, chili, and beans.
• 😀 Indigenous people quickly learned to cultivate new products introduced by the Spanish, including fruits like plums and peaches, and vegetables like lettuce and radishes.
• 😀 The Spanish introduced irrigation methods like dams to help with water storage, improving agricultural productivity during dry seasons.
• 😀 Obrajes, small factories producing woolen textiles, were set up to manufacture goods from animals like sheep, leading to exploitation of workers, especially Indigenous and African people.
• 😀 The Spanish introduced livestock to New Spain, including cattle, horses, mules, pigs, goats, and sheep, each serving a specific purpose in agriculture, mining, and daily life.
• 😀 Livestock became a problem for indigenous agriculturalists, as they ate the crops intended for local consumption, highlighting the cultural clash between European settlers and Indigenous people.
• 😀 The fusion of Spanish, Indigenous, African, and Asian cultures led to the creation of new foods, such as mole, tacos de carnitas, and barbacoa, marking the beginning of a unique mestizo gastronomy in Mexico.

Q & A

What were the main economic activities in New Spain?

The main economic activities in New Spain included mining, agriculture, livestock farming, and the production of textiles in obrajes.

Why was mining particularly important for the Spanish crown in New Spain?

Mining was crucial for the Spanish crown as it provided significant economic benefits, especially through the extraction of precious metals like silver. The crown depended on the wealth generated by the mines.

How did the Spanish overcome the challenge of insufficient funds for mining operations?

The Spanish overcame the lack of funds by using Indigenous labor to extract minerals from the mines, with some poor Spaniards and Africans also participating in the work.

What was the 'system of patio' introduced by Bartolomé de Medina?

The 'system of patio' was a revolutionary technique for extracting silver using mercury. This method made the extraction process more efficient but was hazardous to workers, as mercury exposure led to fatalities.

How did the Indigenous workers benefit from mining, despite the harsh conditions?

Indigenous workers, particularly the free workers, were paid wages and had the opportunity to keep valuable minerals they extracted, which they could sell for additional income. However, they still had to meet quotas set for them.

What were some of the agricultural changes introduced in New Spain?

In New Spain, Indigenous people learned to cultivate new crops like wheat, sugarcane, rice, and fruits like peaches and plums. They also grew various vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, and cilantro, which were introduced by the Spanish.

How did Spanish agricultural tools and irrigation systems impact New Spain's farming?

The Spanish brought agricultural tools like plows, hoes, and irrigation systems, including dams and canals, which helped improve farming efficiency and allowed for better water management during droughts.

What were obrajes, and how did they contribute to the economy of New Spain?

Obrajes were textile workshops where Indigenous and African workers used handlooms to create woolen fabrics. They were a significant source of employment, though workers often faced exploitation due to poor working conditions.

Why did the Spanish crown order the destruction of many obrajes in 1700?

The Spanish crown ordered the destruction of many obrajes because their production had become so extensive that it began to threaten Spanish industry, as the quantity of goods produced in New Spain exceeded what Spain could produce.

How did the introduction of livestock affect New Spain's agriculture and Indigenous communities?

The introduction of livestock, such as cows, horses, pigs, and sheep, was beneficial for the Spanish, providing resources for their diet and economy. However, it also negatively impacted Indigenous agricultural practices, as these animals consumed the crops grown for Indigenous people's own consumption.