Colonial Modernity in South America through the 1750 Treaty of Madrid : Environmental Destruction and the Institutionalization of Inequality

Key Points

• Environmental destruction was institutionalized through colonial frameworks established by the Treaty of Madrid.
• The Treaty redefined territorial boundaries, leading to resource extraction and forced displacement of Indigenous communities.
• The analysis delves into the legal mechanisms that justified resource control and social hierarchies during the colonial period.
• Findings indicate that colonial modernity played a crucial role in shaping systemic inequalities that persisted post-independence.

Abstract