article

Hacienda and plantation in Yucatan: an historical-ecological consideration of the folk-urban continuum in Yucatan

América indígena • 25 • Published In 1965 • Pages: 35-63

By: Strickon, Arnold.

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to look at the four communities studied by Redfield (Merida, Dzitas, Chan Kom and Tusik) in historical and ecological perspective. The author concludes that the henequen estates of Redfield's time were critical to an understanding of Yucatecan culture as Redfield saw it. In fact the whole development of Yucatecan culture since the contact period has been tied to the agricultural estate in one of its forms. This article begins with a critique of Redfield's folk-urban continuum as an historical model specific to Yucatan, followed by a brief outline of the environment of Yucatan, then a discussion of the 'ecomienda' period, the cattle hacienda, the sugar plantation and the War of the Castes, the henequen plantation, and the emergence of the distribution of cultures as reported by Redfield. This source is important as it presents the historical background for the development of local differences among the Maya and thus provides a framework for the individual communities discussed in other sources.

HRAF PubDate

2000

Region

Middle America and the Caribbean

Sub Region

Maya Area

Document Type

article

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

5: Excellent Primary Data

Analyst

Joan Steffens ; 1965

Field Date

not applicable

Coverage Date

early nineteenth - mid twentieth centuries

Coverage Place

communities of Merida, Dzitas, Chan Kom and Tusik, Yucatan, Mexico

Notes

Arnold Strickon

Information on the estate system in Yucatan (haciendas and plantations) has been indexed for Acculturation and Culture Change (177) and Labor Relations (466) since the emphasis here is on its effect on Maya culture through recruitment of labor and the Maya's place as a laborer in the total system.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-63)

LCCN

44038531

LCSH

Mayas