What social structure emerged as a result of racial mixing among Spanish, Indigenous, and African populations?

The emergence of a rigid class system in colonial Latin America can be attributed to the complex social dynamics resulting from the racial mixing among Spanish, Indigenous, and African populations. As these groups interacted and intermarried, a distinct social hierarchy developed, characterized by varying degrees of privilege and legal status based on race.

This hierarchy was often categorized into different classes: Peninsulares (Spaniards born in Spain), Creoles (Spaniards born in the colonies), Mestizos (of mixed European and Indigenous descent), Mulattoes (of mixed European and African descent), and Indigenous peoples, with each group having differing rights and societal roles. This system reinforced the dominance of the European-descended populations while systematically marginalizing Indigenous peoples and Africans. It was deeply entrenched in society and influenced everything from economics to politics and cultural practices, reflecting the broader patterns of colonial power and discrimination.

As such, the rigid class system became a defining feature of the social landscape in the Americas during this period, shaping relationships and interactions among diverse populations.