Review by Choice Review
Using mostly primary sources from various countries in the Americas and Europe, the author has constructed a sociodemographic study covering over a century of Quito's population history. The book is divided into two major sections corresponding to the 17th and 18th centuries. In the first part, Minchom explains Quito's social formation, particularly the socioracial structures and the Church's role in the population's socioeconomic status. In contrast to the more general approach of part one, the second half of the book analyzes in great detail the fiscal reforms and changes that affected Quito's population. Elaborations of the informal economy, demographic changes, socioracial mobility, and social disturbances provide the reader with a vivid, clearly written, and well-researched book that makes another contribution to the still under-researched historical geography not only of Ecuador but of Latin America generally. Includes a Spanish-to-English glossary of terms and an international bibliography of primary and secondary sources. Upper-division undergraduate; graduate; specialist. L. Yacher; Southern Connecticut State University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
