HISTORIA ECONOMICA Y SOCIAL DE COLOMBIA 1537-1719 TOMO I

This book is highly lauded for its innovative historical style, especially given the author's esteemed reputation as a leading Colombian historian and a founder of "new history." It masterfully explores the often-neglected 16th and 17th centuries of Spanish conquest and early colonial rule, a period crucial for understanding the foundational elements of later Colombian republican history. The author meticulously examines the essential facets of this nascent kingdom, including the dynamics of conquest, the transformation of indigenous populations, systems of domination, the critical role of land, the gold economy and its fiscal impact on the crown, trade networks, and the intricate structure of colonial society. This comprehensive analysis provides invaluable historical, commercial, and socio-economic context for the era.

However, a significant point of criticism is the book's primary concentration on the territories governed by the Audiencia de Santa Fe, largely corresponding to present-day Bogotá. This geographical constraint means that other regions within the New Kingdom receive less detailed attention. While the review acknowledges that this focus might be attributed to the greater availability of historical data and superior documentation in Santa Fe and potentially Popayán, it still represents a narrower scope for readers anticipating a broader regional perspective.

Despite its somewhat localized geographical focus, the book is ultimately deemed an important and insightful work. The author is recognized for making a substantial effort to extrapolate findings from Santa Fe to illustrate the wider realities of the entire New Kingdom and, in many respects, other significant colonies across the Americas. It stands as an essential resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the intricate origins of Colombia's historical development. This book would particularly appeal to readers interested in early colonial history, the socio-economic underpinnings of the region, and those who value a meticulously researched academic work illuminating a less-studied yet pivotal historical period.