Hansen, Caroline Anne (1991) Conquest and colonization in the Colombian Choco, 1510-1740. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

During the eighteenth century, the Chocó became an
area of great importance to the Viceroyalty of New Granada.
The region's sources of precious metal not only contributed
to the economic recovery of the neighbouring cities of the
Cauca Valley, but also enriched immensely the individual
owners of the Chocô's mines and slaves gangs, the merchants
who traded with them, and the royal officials and priests
who served there.
Despite the region's economic importance, it remained
badly underdeveloped: a combination of climate and terrain
discouraged Spanish settlement. While Spaniards were not
attracted to the Chocô f or the purpose of settlement,
slaves were nevertheless introduced in large numbers to
exploit its gold deposits, and these were supported by the
labour of the region's native inhabitants.
This thesis will show, however, that it took the
Spaniards nearly 300 years effectively to bring the Chocó
under Crown control. Although the region had been known
since the earliest days of conquest - Balboa, Almagro, and
Pizarro had been among the first to explore the area -
Indian resistance prevented the Spaniards from establishing
a firm and lasting foothold in Indian territory until the
1660s. By the 1670s, a Franciscan mission had been
established for the purpose of converting the Indians of
the Chocô to the Christian Faith.
Even at this stage, however, Spanish control was far
from secure. By the 1680s, one of the Indian groups
inhabiting the region - the Citarâ - had rebelled against
the colonists and their increasing demands, and massacred
as many Spaniards as they were able to surprise.
It was the defeat of the rebel leaders which marked a
turning point in the fortunes of the Chocó peoples. After
the region had been finally pacified, Spaniards began to
settle the area in growing numbers, the size of the slave
population grew at a rapid rate, and the exploitation of
gold deposits began in earnest.
But while the Spaniards had undoubtedly established
control of the native peoples by the beginning of the
eighteenth century, the latter continued to resist both
resettlement and conversion by fleeing from their
settlements and refusing to accept the teaching of
Christian Doctrine. Their continuing resistance was
facilitated by the ineffective methods of administration
introduced in the Chocó, controlled by corrupt tenientes,
corregidores, secular priests, and Franciscan missionaries.
These are the main themes that will be taken up in this
study.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	F History United States, Canada, Latin America > F1201 Latin America (General)
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Chocó (Colombia) -- History -- 16th century, Chocó (Colombia) -- History -- 17th century, Chocó (Colombia) -- History -- 18th century
Official Date:	September 1991
Dates:	Date Event September 1991 Submitted
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Department of History
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	McFarlane, Anthony, 1946-
Sponsors:	University of Warwick ; Rayne Foundation
Extent:	vi, 392 leaves
Language:	eng

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