Final answer:
The class structure of Spanish colonies was hierarchical, based on ancestry and birthplace, with peninsulares and criollos at the top. The economic system was controlled by the Spanish Crown, which imposed taxes like the quinto and restricted trade to ensure profits, resulting in significant disparities in economic impact across different social classes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social and Economic Structure of Spanish Colonies
The class structure of Spanish colonies was deeply hierarchical and was significantly influenced by a person's ancestry and place of birth. At the top were the peninsulares, Spaniards born in Spain, who held the highest positions in colonial administration and the church. They were often exempt from taxes and had many privileges, including carrying weapons and holding government or military offices. Below them were the criollos (creoles), Spaniards born in the colonies, who were primarily the landed elite and merchants, holding some high clergy positions.
The mestizos, of mixed European and indigenous ancestry, worked as lower clergy, artisans, or farmed land. Native Americans, or Indians, were subjacent to mestizos, dealing with tribute and mandatory labor, which made them integral to the colonial economy. With the introduction of African slaves, other classifications such as mulatto (mixed African and European) and zambo (mixed African and indigenous) emerged, further refining the social hierarchy. Economically, the Spanish Crown imposed the quinto, a tax whereby one-fifth of all precious metals mined would go to the Crown. Trade regulations were also strict, with limited ports for commerce, favoring Spain's economic interests over local colonial economies.