What does the Casta System represent in Spanish colonial society?

The Casta System in Spanish colonial society is fundamentally a complex racial hierarchy that categorized individuals based on their ethnicity and racial mixture. It delineated social status and access to rights, privileges, and power within colonial society in a manner that was primarily determined by one's ancestry.

Individuals were classified into various categories such as Spaniards, mestizos (people of mixed European and Indigenous descent), and mulattos (people of mixed European and African descent), among others. Each category had different social standings, legal rights, and opportunities. This hierarchy reinforced and institutionalized social divisions, leading to discrimination against those who were not born into pure Spanish lineage, significantly impacting their life experiences, economic opportunities, and social interactions.

The system heavily influenced social interactions, marriage alliances, and the ability to obtain certain titles or roles, demonstrating its profound control over societal structure during the colonial period. Thus, the Casta System is a clear representation of a racial hierarchy that dictated the dynamics of power and privilege in Spanish colonial society.