casta
Colonial heritage system
Casta refers to the elaborate racial classification system used in colonial Spanish America to categorize people by their mixture of Spanish, Indigenous, and African ancestry.
The system created dozens of named categories—mestizo, mulatto, castizo, and many others—each with different legal rights and social standing.
Casta paintings depicted these categories as a kind of racial taxonomy.
The casta system reinforced colonial hierarchies based on perceived racial purity.
Family line of descent
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- pedigreeRecord of descent
genealogy · ethnicity · roots · origin · forebears · progenitors · antecedents · family
Division into distinct levels
- rankingOrdered position assignment
- tieringArranging in stacked levels
- levelsHeights or ranked stages
- echelonsLevels within a hierarchy
gradation · classification · categorization · ordering · system · structure · limpieza de sangre · social standing
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
- exclusionBeing barred from participation
segregation · inequality · inequity · subjugation · privilege · disadvantage · casteism · untouchability
ancestry
Family line of descent
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
- descentDownward slope or lineage
pedigree · genealogy · ethnicity · roots · origin · forebears · progenitors · antecedents · family · inheritance
stratification
Division into distinct levels
echelons · gradation · classification · categorization · ordering · system · structure · limpieza de sangre · social standing · status
prejudice
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- biasUnfair inclination or prejudice
- oppressionUnjust exercise of power
- marginalizationRelegation to powerless periphery
exclusion · segregation · inequality · inequity · subjugation · privilege · disadvantage · casteism · untouchability · reservation
- grupos sociaisfamilia, elite
- Spanish Colonialencomienda, hacienda, conquistador, viceroy, viceroyalty
- Mestizo Culturemixed race, race mixing, indigenous roots, ancestry, cultural pride
- Indigenous MexicoAztec, Maya, Zapotec, Olmec, Toltec
- colonial ranksviceroy, colonial administrator, lieutenant governor, resident
castaegalitarianism
Philosophy of universal equality
classlessness · social equality · classless society · meritocracy · social mobility
castaracial equality
Equal treatment regardless of ancestry
racial integration · colorblindness · racial unity · miscegenation · hybridity
castaegalitarian
Equality principle supporter
equality · equal · human dignity · brotherhood · fraternity
- spell castingInvoking magical effects
- casting aspersionsAttacking someone's reputation
- casting callSummons for performer tryouts
- casting offReleasing mooring lines
- casting couchExploitation in entertainment hiring
- casting directorChooses actors for roles
casting, caste, caster, castings, casted, castes, outcaste, castanet, castable