Jesuits in Latin AmericaSETTING UP UTOPIA IN THE JUNGLES OF THE NEW WORLD

Arrival in the New World

Founded in 1540

Came to America between 1549 and 1553

Franciscan and Dominicans already here

Jesuits quickly formed a social and economic powerhouse through centralized social construction

The Thomas More ConnectionINSPIRED BY UTOPIA

Copied More’s idea to restore society to it’s Christian base

Adopted the norms of natural rights as defined by Christ

Believed that they could establish Utopia in the jungles

Land Grants

Land Granted just like other haciendas

Land was less important than the number of souls living on that land

Jesuits amassed acreage in Chile, Peru, and Mexico were they developed huge plantations and cattle ranches

Mining InterestsColumbia

Ecuador

Venezuela

Panama

Communal Model Called Reductions

Created on self-discipline and organization

Reduction means leading back to Christ

Jesuits believed that the native population had been led away from God by Satan

Native symbols and spirituality led Jesuits to believe that natives had once understood God in the western sense

The Priests

International in Character

Well educated

Spiritually Driven

Conversion

Natives accepted conversion but frequently strayed

Practices of polygamy and cannibalism pervasive

Only firm believers allowed in the mission to keep those who strayed separate

Secular Conflict

1640 sees Portugeese independence from Spain

Philip IV allows Jesuits to arm the natives against slave raiders

Jesuits developed local government and banking making them strong

Secular haciendas used slaves and resented Jesuits making the natives equal and free

Secular haciendas tended to be poorly run but families were powerful and connected

Education of the NativesJesuits brought the printing press

Encouraged and provided education

Printed the Bible in Guarani language

Gave natives civic responsibility

Removal

Jesuits began defending rights of natives against the authority of Spain

Jesuits fostered a benevolent attitude toward separation from Spain

Local bourgeois also wanted separation from Spain because of mercantile government practices

Jesuits came into direct conflict with the ruling elite and Pope Clement XIV dissolved the order

New World Versus Old World

Jesuits challenged the aristocracy

Jesuits challenged the Medieval theocracy of Rome

Jesuits challenged social mores concerning race

Jesuits challenged economic concepts by creating communes

Take Away

Natives could not govern themselves

European exploitation created social chaos

Colonial consequences of Jesuit removal still visible in Latin America today