Material culture reveals historical trade routes and social status in 17th-century Cartagena
The detailed inventory of possessions from a 17th-century Inquisition trial provides a unique window into the material culture, economic connections, and social stratification of urban Cartagena.
Colonial Latin American Review · 2021
Key Findings
- 01The inventories included a wide range of domestic goods, textiles, jewelry, and personal items.
- 02Many objects indicated connections to Atlantic and Pacific trade networks, with items originating from Europe, Africa, and Asia.
- 03The confiscation and subsequent auction of these goods reveal patterns of consumption and social mobility within the city.
Application
Design takeaway
Consider the narrative and symbolic value of materials and objects in design, as they can communicate complex histories and social connections.
How to apply
When designing products or spaces, research the historical context of similar items or materials to understand their evolving meanings and associations.
Project actions
- 01When documenting your design process, be thorough in recording the origins and potential historical context of your chosen materials.
- 02Consider how the materials and forms you select might communicate specific messages about the user or the product's intended context.
Method & Evidence
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Utilizes primary source documents (inventories) for direct evidence.
- +Provides a detailed, micro-level view of historical life.
Limitations
The available historical records might be biased or incomplete, affecting the accuracy of conclusions drawn about material culture.
Reliability & validity
Reliability is high due to the use of direct inventory records. Validity is strong in terms of what the objects *were*, but interpretation of their broader societal meaning requires careful historical contextualization.
Think critically
How might the legal and religious context of the Inquisition have influenced the types of possessions documented, potentially skewing the representation of everyday material culture?
Design Principles
"Material objects are imbued with cultural and economic significance that can be deciphered to understand societal structures."
Examining the objects owned by individuals, even in a historical context of legal proceedings, can illuminate broader patterns of trade, cultural exchange, and the display of status. This approach offers designers insights into how material possessions have historically functioned as indicators of identity and connection.
What This Means for Your Design
By looking at what people owned in the past, like in old lists of belongings, we can learn about where things came from, who was trading with whom, and what people's lives were like.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing the historical context of materials or the symbolic meaning of objects in your design project.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
(2021). Fragile fortunes: Afrodescendant women, witchcraft, and the remaking of urban Cartagena. Colonial Latin American Review. https://doi.org/10.1080/10609164.2021.1912481 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/a807445d-607f-4587-88ba-17b339f1098c/material-culture-reveals-historical-trade-routes-and-social-status-in-17th-century-cartagena
Paragraph starter
The analysis of historical inventories, such as those from 17th-century Cartagena, demonstrates how material possessions serve as tangible evidence of trade networks, cultural influences, and social stratification, offering valuable insights for contemporary design practice regarding the communicative power of objects.
Source
Colonial Latin American Review
Fragile fortunes: Afrodescendant women, witchcraft, and the remaking of urban Cartagena
journal · 2021
View sourceQuestions about this research
- What does the research say about material culture reveals historical trade routes and social status in 17th-century cartagena?
- Consider the narrative and symbolic value of materials and objects in design, as they can communicate complex histories and social connections. Evidence: Colonial Latin American Review (2021).
- Why does "Material culture reveals historical trade routes and social status in 17th-century Cartagena" matter for design?
- Examining the objects owned by individuals, even in a historical context of legal proceedings, can illuminate broader patterns of trade, cultural exchange, and the display of status. This approach offers designers insights into how material possessions have historically functioned as indicators of identity and connection.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Consider the narrative and symbolic value of materials and objects in design, as they can communicate complex histories and social connections.
- What were the main findings?
- The inventories included a wide range of domestic goods, textiles, jewelry, and personal items.. Many objects indicated connections to Atlantic and Pacific trade networks, with items originating from Europe, Africa, and Asia.. The confiscation and subsequent auction of these goods reveal patterns of consumption and social mobility within the city.
- What research method was used?
- Historical analysis of archival documents with 16 individuals (15 women and Teodora de Salcedo).
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2021 journal from Colonial Latin American Review.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing products or spaces, research the historical context of similar items or materials to understand their evolving meanings and associations.
- What are the limitations?
- The records are from a specific legal context (Inquisition trials) and may not represent the full spectrum of material culture for all residents. The survival of records is also incomplete.
- Is there evidence that 17th-century cartagena affects design outcomes?
- The possessions of women accused of witchcraft in 17th-century Cartagena, as documented by the Inquisition, reveal extensive trade connections and served as markers of their social and economic standing. Examining the objects owned by individuals, even in a historical context of legal proceedings, can illuminate broade Source: Colonial Latin American Review (2021).
- Where does this trade research apply?
- Urban Cartagena, 17th Century It sits within classic design research on designdex.org.
Related research topics
17th-century cartagena design research · evidence on 17th-century cartagena · does 17th-century cartagena improve design outcomes · trade studies for designers · 17th-century cartagena and trade findings · classic design research evidence