Génesis y composición étnico social de las milicias en Venezuela colonial

Abstract

In the following article, the genesis of the colonial militias in Venezuela and their ethnic social composition is analyzed, taking as a starting point the process of “conquest and colonization”, characterized by ethnic segregation and social discrimination about the so called “people of color”, which degenerated into the form ation of caste militias. The problem of indigenous resistance, internally, and the constant siege of pirates and corsairs, externally, posed to Spain the need to organize its military defense in the occupied territories along the Atlantic Ocean. During the militias training process, the incorporation of the various ethnic social groups is underlined as one of the most relevant phenomena in the social acquired unique characteristics and generated conflicting consequences in the subsequent development of th e war of independence.