Final answer:
The Spanish prohibited intermarriage of Europeans and indigenous Americans in order to maintain a racial and social hierarchy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'The Spanish prohibited intermarriage of Europeans and indigenous Americans' is True.
During the era of Spanish colonization in the Americas, the Spanish authorities did prohibit intermarriage between Europeans (Spaniards) and indigenous Americans. This was done primarily in order to maintain the racial and social hierarchy established by the Spanish colonial system. The Spanish held the belief that intermarriage would disrupt the perceived superiority of Europeans over indigenous peoples.
By forbidding intermarriage, the Spanish sought to maintain a clear distinction between the European colonizers (peninsulares) and the indigenous population, as well as the mixed-race population (mestizos). This policy also contributed to the development of a highly stratified society in Spanish American colonies, with limited mobility and opportunities for individuals of indigenous and mixed ancestry.