REDUCCIONES Meaning and
Definition
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"Reducciones" is a Spanish term that refers to a concept historically associated with the colonization of the Americas, particularly in Latin America during the Spanish colonial period. In general, it describes a process of reducing or consolidating native indigenous populations into centralized settlements or communities under the control and influence of colonizers or missionaries.
During colonization, the Spanish authorities and Catholic missionaries sought to convert and subjugate native indigenous populations to Spanish culture, religion, and governance. The "reducciones" were established as a means to achieve these objectives. Indigenous communities were relocated, often forcibly, into designated villages or towns called "reducciones." These settlements were commonly situated near missions or religious institutions, where the missionaries could exercise cultural and religious control over the indigenous population.
The purpose of the "reducciones" was not only to facilitate the conversion of indigenous people but also to exert administrative, economic, and social control over them. Spanish authorities and missionaries aimed to transform indigenous societies into compliant subjects of the Spanish Crown, integrating them into the colonial economic system and suppressing aspects of their own culture and traditions.
Over time, the term "reducciones" has come to represent the process and the resulting settlements themselves. Today, these settlements can be found as historical sites or existing communities across Latin America, serving as reminders of the complex and often controversial legacy of colonization and indigenous resistance.
Etymology of REDUCCIONES
The word "reducciones" is derived from the Spanish verb "reducir", which means "to reduce" or "to bring back". The term was specifically used in the context of the Spanish colonization of the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries.
In this historical context, "reducciones" referred to a series of settlements or communities established by the Spanish authorities with the intention of converting indigenous peoples to Christianity and integrating them into Spanish colonial society. These settlements were often created in areas where indigenous populations had a high concentration.
The aim of the "reductions" was to consolidate indigenous populations into controlled areas under Spanish influence, primarily for religious and administrative purposes. The Spanish authorities sought to convert the indigenous populations to Christianity, eradicate indigenous cultural practices, and control the land and resources.
