New Granada Revolution
The Enviromental Context
The Vice Royalty of New Granada was vast in size. It's borders spread from modern day Panama to the coast of Ecuador and Venezuela. The size alone would explain the loose reign by Spain. Despite the variable control of Spain in the colonies, they were able to export extremely large amounts of raw materials from mines and fields. For Spain, much of New Granada was solely for the purpose of extracting as much raw materials as possible with no concern for the well being of the environment or the people of the area. Through the use of the three field technique popular during the Encomienda system. Through this process fertile, plentiful soil was left barren due to the over farming that occurred. Much of Spain’s involvement in the colonies tarnished the environment that those people native to the area used to live off, prior to the Spanish colonization.
Economic Context:
Spain attempted to control every aspect of life in the colonies especially in terms of labor and the economic system as a whole. Initially Spain maitaned strict control over the entire Viceroyalty. However this was not always the case.
Work for those with little to no Spanish blood, was back breaking and rarely compensated. Most non-Spanish colonists labored in fields or mines with extremely dangerous conditions.
Mercantilism, defined trade in nearly all colonies ruled by a colonial power such as Spain. When it came time for Colonists to export they were only permited to export the raw materials they’ve extracted and nothing more, and exclusively to Spain or colonies under Spain's rule. Many Colonists exported additional materials to other areas without the knowledge of Spain up until the Vice Royalties independence; which may very well have been funded by the side exportation by many of those who faced such tyranny under Spain.
Labor For Non-Spaniards:
Trade in the Viceroyalty of New Granada:
The Context of The New Granada Revolution
(This is a Map of the colony
of New Granada
at its peak)
(A depiction of harsh labor in the
mines of New Granada)