article

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

América indígena25 • 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.
Subjects
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Acculturation and culture contact
Ethos
Functional and adaptational interpretations
Labor relations
Revolution
culture
Maya (Yucatán Peninsula)
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