Latin American Studies by Philip Essay

• Length: 2 pages
• Subject: Literature - Latin-American
• Type: Essay
• Paper: #16105563
• Related Topics: Guatemala, Physical Geography, Mexican Revolution, Latin America

Excerpt from Essay :

This leads to many false stereotypes and assumptions about cultures which most of us have never experienced.

2) When the structure of colonialism set in on Latin America, the Catholic Church established Counter-Reformation initiatives ordered by Spain's Holy Inquisition. The Counter-Reformation discouraged cultural endeavors in Latin America if they were not directly affiliated to specific Church celebrations. This resulted in much illiteracy and general ignorance of advances being made in the world during the 17th and 18th centuries, specifically the Enlightenment. Additionally, the Catholic Church, in this role, was less involved in being true missionaries, but rather functioned as a cultural censor that enforced regulatory social practices. Peninsular bureaucrats seemed to have no interest or care for the vast lands of Latin America, and developed an increasing disdain for the growing mixed Spanish and indigenous population (Mestizo). They were suspicious of indigenous and mestizo people, and also of Spanish people born in Latin America during the colonialism. These bureaucrats only remained in Latin America so that they could return to Spain with more respect and with a higher rank. The next category of people were the criollos, or the direct descendants of the original conquistadors who settled Latin America. This group was named criollos to imply that they were more "local" and not "real Spaniards" born on the Iberian peninsula. The criollos often felt misunderstood by the peninsular bureaucrats who were attempting to apply Spanish law to the different Latin American environment. The criollos also helped create a mestzo middle class. These foundations would eventually lead to future political upheavals, such as the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920) and the emergence of guerrilla warfare in El Salvador in the 1930s.

3) After independence in the early 1800s, it was evidence