Central Square

The Spanish and Portuguese monarchies built cities throughout Latin America, regardless of the Indian settlements which existed long before the Europeans arrived. These colonial towns have distinctive spatial patterns. What is their spatial focus? What kinds of activities occur here?

Answers:
* central plaza
* social meeting place for old and young, and for families, particularly in the cool evenings
* selling foods, shining shoes, getting a taxi

Optional
1) read about colonialism: Brooke Schoepf, Claude Schoepf, and Joyce Millen, Dying for Growth.
2) take a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico for plaza life, markets, and festivals.

Created by Ingolf Vogeler on 1 February 1996; last revised on 7 April 2002.