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Ordenanzas, 1574-1666

 Series

Scope and Contents

Ordenanzas (ordinances): includes regulations and orders issued to various people in New Spain by the king, the Council of the Indies, and viceroys to ensure that they were known and authorized copies and where they would take effect. The regulations and the record books include information about officials, land, encomiendas, Indian labor, Indian rights, cattle, branding, trade, taxes, and ordinances for different trades and positions, obrajes, regulations of Negros and mestizos, selling in the market, carrying weapons, forbidden drinks, playing cards, roosters, etc. The regulations - provide interesting views of daily life, work of Spanish and Indians: land grants, ejidos, desagues, farming, mining, ranching, pastures, branding, forbid fires burning in grasslands, carrying of knives and weapons around animals, chicken, oxen, horses, and in towns, granaries, corrals, wells, water, rodeos, hunting, trading, carts, caravans, roads, commerce, travel, sheep, workshops, labor, obrajes (factories), cotton, salt, pulque, liquor, fruit, honey, atole, wine, sugar mills, food, fiestas, games, cofradias, Matanzas (slaughters), meat markets, selling in the plaza, markets, vending, measurements, vigas for buildings, sanitation, safety. Mesta - election of mesta, officials, duties, use of vara (rod), interpreters, fines, prices, punishments, taxes (the Mesta was a protective association of livestock owners. It originated in Spain and was brought to New Spain in the late 1530s by Viceroy Antonio de Mendoza.)

Indians and Negros - Protection of Indian lives, rights, traditions, independent of Spanish and Negro influence, treatment of Indians. Operation of repartimientos, encomiendas, voluntary labor, labor for pay, salaries. Rules for security of the home from searches, guarding neighborhoods, vagabonds. Rules concerning mestiza and Indian women wearing Indian or Spanish womens’ dresses. Regulations concerning Negros, mulatos, esclavos, no more than three Negros meet at one time, Spanish, Negros and Mestizos not permitted to live in Indian towns, Spanish not to leave Negros home alone, etc. Some references to Chichimecas.

Places - Puebla, Tepeaca, Tepocotlan, Tacubaya, Tacuba, Veracruz, Mexico City, Tula, Villa de San Miguel, Querétaro.

Dates

  • 1574-1666

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English, Spanish, French, Mayan, Latin

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Extent

From the Collection: 23 boxes (16.5 cu. ft.), 267 volumes, 322 microfilm reels (masters in cabinets), 322 CDs

Creator

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451