Demographic change and ethnic survival among the sedentary populations on the Jesuit mission frontiers of Spanish South America, 1609-1803 : the formation and persistence of mission communities in a comparative context / by Robert H. Jackson
Glossary -- Introduction -- Managing the missions and social-cultural change -- Smallpox epidemics and smallpox treatment -- Demographic patterns on the Paraguay and Chiquitos mission frontiers -- Mission demographic patterns among sedentary and non-sedentary natives on the frontiers of Spanish America : a comparative discussion -- Post-jesuit expulsion population trends -- Conclusions -- Appendix 1: Population of the Paraguay missions, in selected years -- Appendix 2: Females as a percentage of the total population of the Paraguay missions -- Appendix 3: Marriages recorded in the Paraguay missions, in selected years -- Appendix 4: Vital rates of the Paraguay missions -- Appendix 5: Population of the Chiquitos missions -- Appendix 6: Females as a percentage of the total population of the Chiquitos missions -- Appendix 7: Marriages recorded in the Chiquitos missions in selected years -- Appendix 8: vital rates of the Chiquitos missions -- Appendix 9: Castillian weights and measures mentioned in the text -- Appendix 10: A note on colonial Spanish American silver coins -- Appendix 11: Area measurements of agricultural land in Spanish America
Summary
Beginning in 1609, Jesuit missionaries established missions (reductions) among sedentary and non-sedentary native populations in the larger region defined as the Province of Paraguay (Rio de la Plata region, eastern Bolivia). One consequence of resettlement on the missions was exposure to highly contagious old world crowd diseases such as smallpox and measles. Epidemics that occurred about once a generation killed thousands. Despite severe mortality crises such as epidemics, warfare, and famine, the native populations living on the missions recovered. An analysis of the effects of epidemics and demographic patterns shows that the native populations living on the Paraguay and Chiquitos missions survived and retained a unique ethnic identity. A comparative approach that considers demographic patterns among other mission populations place the case study of the Paraguay and Chiquitos missions into context, and show how patterns on the Paraguay and Chiquitos missions differed from other mission populations. The findings challenge generally held assumptions about Native American historical demography
