The last idea that Sterns talks about is the idea of a loss
of native culture. After reading about all the history, this section helped tie in how the past can effect the present. Hispanic ideology and skills were pushed onto natives and the
idea that Indians were able to succeed was “because they could” pick up this
new identity is an important thought when thinking about colonization (188). That
elites were a key target in getting, them to accept the Hispanic culture because
they served as models showing all of the advantages that becoming a ladino
brought was interesting (183). It showed how important it was, in a way,
assimilate Indians. To succeed in this society natives had to show how Hispanic
they were, dropping their culture in the process (187). They idea was to reward
those who accepted the Hispanic culture and punish those who rejected it (182).
In the end they bought into the “Hispanic-mestizo mold” forever changing this
culture into what we see today (183). Now there are still some Indians who have
kept their culture and language, nonetheless the majority of the population has
dropped some of their native ancestry. I believe that this idea is one I will definitely
keep in mind when considering whether or not this was a conquest.
Priscilla, I can understand what you were trying to prove, “that elites were a key target in getting them to accept the Hispanic culture because they served as models showing all of the advantages that becoming a Latino brought.” (183) with that, the description of a “gallant figure dressed in a rose velvet breeches with fine gold trim” had once belonged to an “Indian”. By the early seventeenth century, the growing poverty of Andean peoples could lead us to overlook the rise of natives. However, some were able to escape the burdens and climb the social ladder to accumulate considerable wealth (158) But further on, among Huamanga’s societies prior to the Spanish conquest, the institutions had stunted development in their class divisions. There soon became this wage gap between skilled Indians from unspecialized personnel, to which, the nonmonetary components of the compensation often included special rights which widened the gap further. (161) It was highly beneficial for the Indian to become more Hispanic by their success. So they used strategies of accumulation—one example, commerce . They were independent producers and merchants who were able to invest in commerce and/or owned private property, and obtained special skills. They no longer depended on on their ability to “mobilize traditional forms of property, reciprocal obligation, and loyalty within an ancient family ayllu and ethnic relatives.” (165)
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