1. The CASTE System las castas
Samantha Perez
Professor Adrian Andrade
Span 308 – 90
CSUMB Spring 11
Research Topic
April 1st, 2011
The Caste System (las castas) Samantha Perez
Professor Adrian Andrade
Span 308 – 90
CSUMB Spring 11
Research Topic
April 1st, 2011

2. Origin of castas Castas is derived from the Latin word castus.
Castus translate to chaste.
Castas is actually an Iberian word meaning breed or race.
Used in Spanish and Portuguese.
Castas is an Iberian word meaning breed, race, or lineage. The Caste System was used in colonial Spain originally, as well as Portugal, but was then used in Mexico when the Spaniards made a home there. Castas, the Spanish translation, is derived from the Latin word castus which translates to chaste in English.

3. The System Set in place during the colonial period by the Spanish.
A group of the same race were referred to as castas.
Each group had set restrictions and privileges.
Only two groups were considered “pure”
Before being brought over to Mexico the Caste System was used in Spain and Portugal. It was very popular during the colonial period. What the system does is set each race apart from the other. A group of people from the same race were a casta. There were many different castas, not just in Mexico and Spain but in India at one point as well. Each casta had a set privileges and restriction. If I recall correctly, there are a few examples in the book of this. Out of the many groups of castas there were only two that were truly considered pure. They were the peninsulares and indios, although the indios were not treated as if they were a great and pure race.

4. The castas Peninsulares or gachupines
Criollos (english translation – creoles)
Mestizos
Mulatos
Indio
Negro
Here is a list of some of the castas. First are the Peninsulares, or gachupines. This group was made up of those who were born in Spain. Criollos are those who were born in Mexico but have a Spanish background. Mestizos, if I recall correctly, are those who were born from one Spanish parent and one Native parent. Mulatos are made up of those who had one black parent and one Spanish parent. Indios are those who were born in Mexico and have a Native backgrund. Finally, Negros are those with African American decent.

5. Works Cited
"Capítulo 3." Biblioteca Digital ILCE. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr < entos/colonia/htm/sec_4.htm>.
"Casta - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr <
Gonzales, Manuel G.. Mexicanos: a history of Mexicans in the United States. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, Print.
"Racial Classifications in Latin America." Zona Latina: The Latin American Media Site. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Apr <