Spanish Casta System
Definition
The Spanish Casta system was a hierarchical social structure established by the Spanish colonial regime in Latin America during the 16th to 18th centuries. It categorized people based on their racial ancestry and determined their rights, privileges, and social status.
Analogy
Imagine if your school cafeteria had different lines for lunch based on students' hair color. Blondes get first pick of all the food options while brunettes go next with fewer choices, and so on. That's how rigidly discriminatory the Spanish Casta system was!
Related terms
Mestizo: A term traditionally used in Latin America for people of mixed Native American and European descent.
Creole: In colonial times, this term referred to those born in the Americas but of purely European descent.
Peninsulares: These were Spanish-born Spaniards residing in the New World or colonies of Spain.
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