Textiles and Capitalism in Mexico: An Economic History of the Obrajes, 1539-1840 (Princeton Legacy Library, 815)

The obrajes, or native textile manufactories, were primary agents of developing capitalism in colonial Mexico. Drawing on previously unknown or unexplored archival sources, Richard Salvucci uses standard economic theory and simple measurement to analyze the obraje and its inability to survive Mexico's integration into the world market after 1790. Originally published in 1988. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905. Annotation The obrajes, or native textile manufactories, were primary agents of developing capitalism in colonial Mexico. Drawing on previously unknown or unexplored archival sources, Richard Salvucci uses standard economic theory and simple measurement to analyze the obraje and its inability to survive Mexico's integration into the world market after 1790.Originally published in 1988.The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905 The obrajes, or native textile manufactories, were primary agents of developing capitalism in colonial Mexico. Drawing on previously unknown or unexplored archival sources, Richard Salvucci uses standard economic theory and simple measurement to analyze the obraje and its inability to survive Mexico's integration into the world market after 1790. Originally published in 1988. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905 Frontmatter LIST OF TABLES (page ix) LIST OF MAPS (page x) LIST OF FIGURES (page x) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (page xiii) INTRODUCTION (page 3) ONE: A Web of Weavers (page 9) TWO: Embrión de la Fábrica? (page 32) THREE: "Little Wealth and Considerable Debts" (page 63) FOUR: "Nor More Servitude Than in Other Work" (page 97) FIVE: A Business Much Diminished (page 135) EPILOGUE (page 170) APPENDIX: THE MEASUREMENT OF CLOTH (page 177) GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS (page 179) ABBREVIATIONS IN NOTES (page 181) NOTES (page 183) BIBLIOGRAPHY (page 229) INDEX (page 245)