A History of Latin America, Vol. 1

From Mose in Secondary Literature by Amy • “By no accident, the chief capitals of the Spanish Empire in America arose in the old indigenous heart lands—the Mexican and Peruvian areas—the homes of millions of industrious natives accustomed to performing tribute labor for their ruling classes… Slavery was a way of life to Spaniards; seeing masses work for elite was not a large leap of ideals (2).”42 AN328

In Latin America the colonial past is not a nostalgic memory but a harsh reality. It signifies economic backwardness; political arbitrariness; corruption and nepotism; a hierarchical social order and attitudes of condescension and contempt on the part of elites toward the masses (2)”42