Stern focuses on the economic structure that the Spanish,
specifically, Toledo imposed. The relations between the Spanish and the Indian
had some changes. The violent tactics imposed on the Indians from the Spanish may
seem like the Black Legend which argues that the Spanish are evil and the
natives are weak. The Spanish as always are seeking to gain the most economic
benefit as possible even if it requires violent tactics. The mitas were in a
brutal relationship with the Spanish (84). For example, the working conditions for
the natives were exhausting, long, and sweaty to the point where the health of
natives was negatively impacted with diseases. Yet again, the system wasn’t completely
negative and Stern proves this by discussing the role of the natives and their
economic gains. Stern argues that the natives also took economic advantage out
of the situations. They were able to “exploit commercial opportunities” to
maintain their self-sufficiency (89). This proves that the natives were not as
the Black Legend would portray them. The effects were not the same for all the
natives. The kurakas adapted to such system because it could still benefit them
and their ayllus. When Sterns explains how the economy functioned it seems, as
it were another extreme for the kinship philosophy that the economic system for
the natives relied on. There was a creation of a new political hierarchy was
the natives did participate as well. it was necessary for the Spanish to rely
on political relationships with the natives to be able to take the most out of
the state’s benevolence.
I agree with the comments listed above to some degree. After reading at least part of Stern’s book, I feel that the reader can both contrive Black Legend concepts from it and also see the myths associated with it as well. Stern concerned with the Spanish colonial economy wrote extensively in the prologue of how the natives were continually challenging Spanish rule by crumbling the Spanish myths of economic, political, social precedence, and Christian utopias each of which does not support the second part of the Black Legend, that the natives were innocent victims. (xxvii-xxxi) Stern addressed the Black Legend and conveys that the legend categorizes the natives having either “evil enacted or heroism exerted” upon them. (xlii) According to Stern the natives resisted, changed, and challenged the Spanish, which forced the Spanish to adjust colonialism structures. (li) It does not appear that Stern believes that he is playing into the Black Legend and contests that notion at various points (li) However, as you progress in the book, you can begin to feel like the Spanish are being harsh to the native population, especially when you read about the mitayos who worked in the mines. (87-89) Stern attempted to provide the reader with an understanding of the conditions for the mita system which evokes a sympathy for the natives and perhaps justifiably so, but then talks about how the Amerindian people were able to adjust, adapt, and compete in the commercial economy. I feel that Stern does fall short of dismissing the first part of the Black Legend which conveys the idea that the “Spanish were brutal”. Stern only briefly, at this point, conveyed that not all the Spanish were brutal when he wrote about Maldonado. (42)
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