Essay On Colonial Lives

Just as in Africa and other parts of the world were imperial powers invaded; they went with the same story of civilization through the use of religion. The situation was not different in Latin America where the Spanish, claiming to spread Christianity and civilization took over the Andeans’ land and very much eroded their way of life, including their language.
In the book colonial lives we see how the Spanish imperialists took over Latin America which originally inhabited by the Andeans. Chapter 16 which has the letters of insurrections is trying to show the relationship between the Spanish imperialists and the indigenous Indians. The tactics seem to be the same where original inhabitants are denied their rights of citizenship. Citizenship is awarded based on ownership of private land and literacy. The rural poor and the illiterates in the urban settlements are thus denied their rights such as political suffrage. This means that they are stripped off power to influence any decisions in the administration of their own country.
Those who had a little literacy according to the Spanish standards and those who had a title to some private land are deemed to be good citizens or Christians and are no longer defined as Indians. This is so ironical considering that the people remained to be Indians whether or not they had land were illiterate or not. It does not make sense to brand one a Christian without even exposing the person to the doctrines of Christianity.
When the Spaniards arrive in this land they find Andeans living in small hamlets which are dispersed all over the country side. These small villages are organized in such a way that they form a larger kingdom referred to as the Inka empire. This according to the Spaniards is uncivilization. The definition of civilization according to the Spaniards is having urban settlements. This urban settlements form a part of the central government. The question here, where is the difference between this urban Spanish settings and the Indian hamlets? In this case the Spaniards are not justified to refer to the Andeans as uncivilized.
Spaniards also are of the opinion that to be civilized means to be Christian, to speak and write Spanish and to have a king. The notion of the written word maybe a justified issue but the idea of Spanish language to Indians for them to be termed as civilized is absurd. The Spanish could teach Indians the knowledge of the written word but then the Indians could use their own language.
The letters written by Andeans to Andeans clearly show that they were highly organized and literate. This letters are also meant to refute the Spanish claims that the Indians did not ascribe to God. This can be seen by the letters form the Andeans cacique like Tupac Amaru to other villages warning them against impeding attacks from the Spaniards. This passing of information shows that the Andeans could organize themselves into formidable forces and could also practice espionage.
Comparing this whole issue with in the contemporary world, we see nations which because of their military superiority try to suppress other weaker nation by imposing their ideologies just as the Spaniards were doing to the Andeans. The practice of espionage has also been developed due to advancement in technology.
Just as in other parts where imperialist imposed their rule, the relationship between the Europeans and the indigenous communities were always very volatile and ended up in rebellions and severe bloodshed. Continued rebellions could then force the imperialist to give up and allow the indigenous communities to have their independence though with some indirect control.