| This text 'The Yucatan
in the first half of the 19th century' explains how the population was arranged
in order of classes. The pure Spanish were the highest class, the 'mestizos'
(of mixed Spanish and Maya blood) were second, the 'hidalgos' (descendants
of Mayan nobility) were in a lower level and the common Maya were at the
bottom. Opposition between political groups at the time frequently resulted
in armed conflicts, from which the Maya gained military experience, which
they put into practice in the Caste War. The peninsula became wealthy from
sugar cane and other commodities, most of which were exported out of the
Yucatan. The peninsula declared independence from Mexico but this was denied. |
