Spain's caste system refers to the social hierarchy that was established by the Spanish in their American colonies. It categorized individuals into different social classes based on their ancestry, race, and occupation.
Related terms
Peninsulares: These were people who were born in Spain and held the highest positions of power within the colonial society.
Criollos: They were people of Spanish descent who were born in America. While they held significant wealth and influence, they were not considered equal to Peninsulares.
Mestizos: This term referred to people of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry. They occupied a lower position in the caste system compared to Peninsulares and Criollos.