9.4 Family structures and inheritance patterns

Family structures in colonial Latin America were diverse, ranging from extended families to nuclear units. High illegitimacy rates and adoption practices shaped households. Kinship networks, especially compadrazgo, created important social bonds beyond blood relations.

Inheritance patterns reinforced social hierarchies and gender norms. Primogeniture and entail preserved wealth among elites. Dowries and patrilineal inheritance limited women's access to resources while maintaining male control over family assets.

Family Structures

Extended and Nuclear Families

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• Extended families consisted of multiple generations living together in the same household, including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins
• Nuclear families were smaller units composed of parents and their children, becoming more common in urban areas as colonial society developed
• Illegitimacy rates were high in colonial Latin America, with many children born out of wedlock due to the shortage of European women and the prevalence of informal unions between European men and indigenous or African women
• Adoption was a common practice, particularly among elite families who sought to maintain their lineage and inheritance patterns by adopting male heirs when necessary

Kinship Networks and Godparenthood

• Compadrazgo, a system of ritual kinship, played a significant role in creating social bonds and networks beyond immediate family ties
• Godparenthood, a central aspect of compadrazgo, involved the selection of godparents (padrinos and madrinas) for a child's baptism, confirmation, and marriage
• Godparents were often chosen from a higher social class, creating vertical ties between families and serving as a means of social mobility and patronage
• These kinship networks provided support, protection, and access to resources, especially for those of lower social status (indigenous and African populations)

Inheritance Patterns

Primogeniture and Entail

• Primogeniture, the practice of passing inheritance to the firstborn son, was a common inheritance pattern in colonial Latin America, particularly among elite families
• Entail (mayorazgo) was a legal arrangement that kept estates intact and undivided across generations, ensuring the concentration of wealth and power within a family
• These practices aimed to preserve family lineages, maintain social status, and prevent the fragmentation of landholdings and wealth

Dowry and Patrilineal Inheritance

• Dowry, property or money brought by a bride to her husband upon marriage, was an essential aspect of inheritance and marriage negotiations in colonial Latin America
• The size of the dowry often reflected a family's wealth and social status, and it served as a means of attracting suitable marriage partners for daughters
• Patrilineal inheritance, the passing of property and titles through the male line, was the dominant pattern in colonial society, reinforcing the authority and control of men over family resources
• Women's access to inheritance was often limited, with sons receiving the bulk of the family's assets, while daughters received smaller portions or were expected to rely on their dowries