Question

Question 1

2 pts
What are two (2) major differences between colonialism in New Spain
(Spanish colonies) and Brazil (Portuguese colonies)?
New Spain relied more on African slaves than Brazil because indigenous
populations held highly important positions in colonial society.
Brazil relied more on African slaves than New Spain because indigenous
populations were either too difficult to subjugate or were decimated.
There was no formal racial/ethnic classification and hierarchical systems in
Brazil like there was in New Spain.
Social hierarchies in Brazil were based more on race and ethnicity than in
New Spain.

Answer 1

These are both valid differences between colonialism in New Spain and Brazil:

1. Treatment of Indigenous populations: New Spain relied heavily on the labor of Indigenous populations in their colonies and often forced them into labor systems that were akin to slavery. In contrast, Brazil struggled to subjugate Indigenous populations and relied much more heavily on the importation of African slaves for labor.
2. Racial and Ethnic Hierarchies: The social hierarchies in Brazil were much more explicitly based on race and ethnicity, with a strict system of classification and varying levels of privilege based on one's ancestry. In New Spain, there was still a social hierarchy, but it was not as explicitly based on race and was influenced by factors such as occupation and social status.