Brief summary of the open veins of Latin America of Galeano
Introduction
This essay will address Eduardo Galeano’s vision on the exploitation of Latin America by powers, initially European, and subsequently from the United States. The text will explain the political, economic and social repercussions of European domination to Latin America, from the Spanish conquest to the twentieth century.
Developing
Eduardo Galeano, through his text, is narrating several types of looting that Latin America has suffered step by step by foreign powers. In the first part of his work, he will refer to three important issues: metal looting, agricultural exploitation, and the appropriation of minerals especially from oil.
Galeano begins the first part of the book referring to the exploitation of precious metals such as gold and silver. Recognizes that one of the great motivations of Spanish conquerors were metals. Gold and silver were wanted to the point of not importing the roads to get them. A clear example was Potosí. Galeano (1971) states: “In Potosí la Plata raised temples and palaces, monasteries and garitos, offered reason to the tragedy and the party, spilled blood and wine, turned on the greed and unleashed waste and adventure. The sword and the cross marched together in the conquest and colonial dispossession."
While silver was looted for the enrichment of Europeans, the local population lived in inhuman conditions until they died for the hard work. The contrasts were evident, Galeano (1971) recounts: “That potosine society, ill of ostentation and waste, only left Bolivia the vague memory of their splendors, the ruins of their churches and palaces, and eight million corpses of Indians."
Continuing with the text, Galeano dedicates the second chapter of the first part, to extensively narrating the agricultural exploitation that Latin American countries lived. In the course of the chapter he mentions several products such as: bananas, coffee, cocoa, cotton and rubber, but which refers to special care is to sugar. Galeano mentions that in almost three centuries since the discovery of America there was no more quoted agricultural product for European.
Remember that agricultural resources were looted to be taken to Europe. This economy was based for a long time on the work of black slaves and on forms of exploitation to indigenous people such as the parcel, and later, in the estate. In this regard Galeano (1971) mentions: “The landowner is enough for the payment of ridiculous wages, the remuneration of services in species or free work in exchange for the usufruct of a piece of land."
In the last chapter of the first part of the text, Galeano will emphasize how hegemonic power will change European hands to the United States. This country will continue with the exploitation of Latin American resources, especially minerals and oil.
Oil, according to Galeano, is the most quoted product by large corporations, since it is the necessary fuel for industry and transportation. However, the means used by North America to appropriate this resource, once again, generated poverty and inequality in the countries producing the raw material. A clear example was Venezuela that since 1922 its well -being based on the so -called "black gold" generating a dependent economy with the United States.
conclusion
The text clearly shows unequal relations between world economic powers and Latin America countries. It is a necessary book to be aware that our continent has bled for several centuries. Unfortunately, history has been repeated, new systems similar to colonials exploit the earth and the human being, leaving the veins open to our continent. Despite being a book written several decades ago is still in force as a source of information and analysis. It is our duty to know the story to understand the present and face the future of a better way.
Bibliography
- Anduiza, E and M, Méndez, “Bibliographic quotes in practice and works“, University of Murcia.
- Galeano, E, 1971, "The open veins of Latin America", Mexico, 21st century, pages. 26-220.
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