Investor Presentaiton
The Mission System of Chihuahua
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The Spanish colonial missions —
mining towns
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together with garrisons and
were established by the Jesuit and
Franciscan orders as vehicles for spreading Spanish culture
and religion (Catholicism). Many indigenous peoples were
recruited or forced to work the mission lands.
Sited on rivers in rural, agriculturally rich areas of
Chihuahua, the adobe-and-wood religious and farming
settlements reached their peak in the eighteenth century.
Unfortunately, the concentration of so many Indians
facilitated the spread of disease among a population that
had no immunity to the European diseases. Epidemics were
frequent occurrences and reduced many local populations.
The expulsion of the Jesuits in 1767 precipitated the
abandonment of many of the missions, while natural
changes in the course of some rivers forced communities to
move with them.
Sources: Clara Bargellini, "Misiones y Presidios de Chihuahua" (Gobierno del Estado
de Chihuahua, Mexico, 1997); "Chihuahua Missions." Online:
https://www.wmf.org/project/chihuahua-missions.
CHIN
CAMARO
Copyright © 2019 by John P. Schmal.
All Rights Reserved.
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