LTS 3000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Repartimiento, Indirect Rule, Nahua Peoples
Document Summary
Taiono population dropped 90% and it was spaniards wretchedness that caused this dramatic decline. Violence, displacement, enslavement, over work, and other brutal impositions. Americans were so isolated, they lacked acquired immunity shared by mot africans, asians, and europeans. Mortality was so high within c century of 1492, overall indigenous ppl fell at least 50 to 5 million. Decimation of native pop was more so a genocide than a holocaust. After 1500, iberians direction split: spanish directed bulk of efforts toward interior kingdoms and empires of american mainland, portuguese continued their push to asia. Subjected weak neighboring towns to their own rules. Local headmen allowed to stay in office. However also had to pay significant tribute to mexica. Culture of ritualized violence was also found among other nahuas. Similar to aztecs in quickly growing their empire. Favored centralized control over indirect rule and tribute collecting. Favored to exact tribute in form of labor rather goods.
