City Indians in Spain’s American Empire: Urban Indigenous Society in Colonial Mesoamerica and Andean South America, 1530-1810

Urban indigenous societies in colonial Latin America were not merely marginalized but actively shaped and sustained colonial cities through agency, resilience, and adaptation. Contrary to the long-held view that urbanization led to the decline of indigenous communities, this anthology demonstrates their pivotal role in maintaining social structures, navigating complex ethnic relations, and preserving cultural practices despite Spanish dominance. The study employs a comparative ethnohistorical approach, analyzing case studies from Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, and beyond, to illustrate how indigenous groups—such as the Ayarmaca-Pumamarca in Cuzco or Nahua communities in Tenochtitlan—redefined ethnic identities, maintained rural connections, and challenged colonial authority through institutions like cabildos. Mobility, property rights, and social cohesion emerged as key strategies for survival and influence, revealing urban Indians as integral, though overlooked, contributors to the colonial world.

Kashanipour, R. A. (2013). City Indians in Spain’s American Empire: Urban Indigenous Society in Colonial Mesoamerica and Andean South America, 1530-1810. Hispanic American Historical Review, 93(4), 700–701. https://doi.org/10.1215/00182168-2351825