According to the artist, was caste only about lineage? Were there other factors that influenced one’s caste designation?

The artist, Miguel Cabrera, believed that caste was not only about lineage. He argued that other factors, such as skin color, occupation, and wealth, also influenced one’s caste designation. For example, in his painting “The Albino,” Cabrera depicts an albino child who is classified as a mestizo. This is because the child’s father is a Spaniard and his mother is an Indigenous woman. However, the child’s albinism also influences his caste designation, as it makes him stand out from both Spaniards and Indigenous people.

Based on your understanding of the reading, were caste and race the same thing during the colonial period?

Caste and race were not the same thing during the colonial period. Caste was a social construct that was based on a combination of factors, including lineage, skin color, occupation, and wealth. Race, on the other hand, was a biological construct that was based on physical characteristics, such as skin color, hair texture, and facial features.

However, the two concepts were often conflated during the colonial period. This was because the Spanish colonial government used caste as a way to justify the exploitation of Indigenous people and enslaved Africans. The government argued that these groups were inferior to Spaniards because of their race, and that they therefore deserved to be enslaved or treated as second-class citizens.

What impact did the Bourbon Reform period, covered in chapter 11, have on caste and racial designations? Why did the reforms include attention to caste, race, and social status? Be specific.

The Bourbon Reforms, which were implemented in the 18th century, had a significant impact on caste and racial designations. The reforms were designed to centralize power and increase efficiency in the Spanish Empire. As part of these reforms, the Spanish government began to collect more data about the population, including information about caste and race. This data was used to create new laws and regulations that further stratified the population.

The reforms also included attention to caste, race, and social status because the Spanish government believed that these factors were important determinants of a person’s worth. The government argued that people of higher caste and race were more capable of governing and contributing to society. As a result, the reforms gave these groups more privileges and opportunities than people of lower caste and race.