Borders: spaces of sociability in Santa Marta in the second half of 18th century

Abstract

When a state, in this case a monarchical state, establishes fixed borders in territories without a stable political domain, the result is completely different than that of organizing such a territory. The creation of mixed societies in the north of present–day Colombia is a process whose roots are found in the implementation of the Bourbon Reforms in the mid–eighteenth century by Crown Agents. This article identifies and discusses the processes that led to the emergence of an autonomous society in this border area.

Keywords

• frontera, sociabilidad, mestizaje, transformación cultural, negociación.