Final answer:
The three levels of racial stratification in Colonial Mexico or New Spain were peninsulares, criollos, and mestizos, mulattos, and zambos. The system was used to determine social status and justify unequal treatment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The three levels of racial stratification, also known as Castas, institutionalized in Colonial Mexico or New Spain were:
- Peninsulares: Spaniards born in Spain, who held controlling positions and traveled back and forth between Spain and the colonies. They were at the highest level of the caste system.
- Criollos: Descendants of Europeans who were born in Mexico. They were generally prosperous and did not hold office, although they could wear silk clothing.
- Mestizos, Mulattos, and Zambos: These were different classifications of mixed-race individuals, with various combinations of European, native, and African ancestry. They occupied lower positions in the caste system.
The racial categorization was important for the Spanish colonists as it determined social status, privileges, and opportunities available to individuals. It was also used to maintain control over different racial groups and justify unequal treatment.