Economic structure and social costs of the colonial period in Huamanga (1812 and 1824): an analysis from the economic perspective

Abstract

This study analyzes the social costs of independence in Huamanga, focusing on the economic, social, and political implications for its inhabitants. The objective is to identify the impact of the conflict and colonial policies on various social groups, particularly the indigenous population, through taxes, forced labor, and community disintegration. Using a qualitative methodology with documentary review techniques and expert interviews, it offers a contemporary perspective on the social and economic impact of this period. The results indicate that Huamanga’s economy was based on agriculture, trade, and manufacturing, with a hierarchical social structure that intensified the exploitation of indigenous groups. During the war, mobilization and military demands led to land abandonment and family disintegration. It is concluded that independence destabilized Huamanga’s economy and social structure, increasing racial and socioeconomic tensions and generating an environment of inequality and dispossession that especially affected vulnerable sectors, whose struggles for justice persist in the historical memory of the population.