Yaqui peoples and economic circuits of Sonora in the early nineteenth century

Abstract

A series of transformations took place in the provinces of Sonora, Ostimuri and Sinaloa during the early 19th century. These were the result of several economic and political changes undergone in New Spain, stemming from the development of regional historical processes: the consolidation of regional elites, changes in ownership of the land, conflicts between social groups and the war of Independence. All this led to shifts in the control over local political power. The Indian peoples of these regions were not exempt from such changes. Undoubtedly, the transformations that most affected them were the material progress of the Spanish landowners living in the provinces and the expulsion of the Jesuits. The author analyzes how both events combined and modif ied the structure of the indigenous societies, though in different ways and at different times.