La emigración española a América en el siglo XVII. Mujeres cruzando el Atlántico

Abstract

The migration phenomenon from Spain to America has been key for the historical evolution of both territories, implying important social, economic, demographic, political and cultural changes, in both Atlantic shores. This PhD analyses this process throughout the 17th century, contributing to fulfil a time space unexplored, and paying special attention to women in order to make their part visible. In order to do that, three groups of sources have been used: India boarding licences — an essential permit to be able to cross legally to Ultramar — watched over at the General Archive of the Indies, Seville, the private correspondence attached to them, and, finally, the process inquisitorial records initiated by the Novohispanic Holy Office, located in the General Archive of Mexico; the latter with the aim of locating Spanish emigrants settled in the continent. We have used a quantitative and qualitative double methodology, that has allowed us access to not only to the evolution of migrations in numbers, but also to the most human side of these populational movements. With this project, it has been confirmed the significant number of journeys that took place throughout the 600s, since it has been counted 39,897 emigrants (33.20% in the whole colonial period), specially during the first three decades, achieving numbers never experienced before. Data reflects that the situation of crisis experienced in most of the Spanish territory, contrary to the American colonies' development, acted as a factor of expulsion. Besides, the changes in the relationships and the commercial traffic between both continents had an impact in the migratory volume. Among the chapters treated, we have given more importance to the origin of the emigrants. These were mainly Andalusian and from Extremadura, as it had also been happening in the precious centuries, and the destinations were mostly New Spain and Peru. We have also been interested in knowing the collective character of this emigration; so we know that between 1600 and 1630, emigration had an imporcant family feature, resulting in the move of a great number of women; indeed, a quarter of the total emigrants in the 17th century was women, having an essential role in the American colonies. There were numerous single women, due to the number of daughters that travelled along with their parents, as well as nursemaids and maids. The qualitative study has allowed us to deeply know the female motivations to move, as well as the fears experienced by those who risked themselves in that adventure, most of them overcome thank to the intervention and help from the families and acquaintances previously settled in Indies. Without leaving aside the particular reasons, the women who decided to go across the Atlantic Ocean had to do it because they needed to improve their situation — the huge matrimonial market in the American territories enable them to improve it -, solve some problems or meet again with people already settled there. However, although America offered them a place where they could achieve their dreams, it has been proven that not all the women who went there were that lucky, since they found themselves involved in difficult situations. A clear example is the number of women who were prosecuted because of the Inquisition in the New Spain.