Los traslados de ciudades en América: autorretrato de una sociedad en crisis

Abstract

Between the beginning of the XVIth century and the end of the colonial time, tens of cities founded in America by the Spanish conquerors were changed of place. The causes of these transfers were varied and could be combined: unhealthy climate, natural disasters, attacks of Indians or pirates, changes of economic axis... The analisis of this moment of acute crisis emphasizes internal contradictions of the colonial society because the decision of the transfer was not always easy to take, especially when the city had time to grow and root in its territory. Whereas the various lobbies clash to obtain their displacement or their maintenance in the place, apparent solidarity is disappearing in front of deep cleavages which cross a destabilized urban society in search of a new political legitimacy. Even the role of the king is then criticized and the polysemous concept of Fatherland starts to take a new direction for Creoles who estimate themselves injured by the representatives of the Crown.