Debilidad inherente? Parishes and villages settled in Jesuit lands located in the Ecuadorian highlands

Abstract

The Jesuit lands in the Ecuadorian highlands had a high impact on the consolidation of the economy of this region during the colonial era, becoming distribution, production and storage centers. The exile of the order in 1767, the beginning of the republican period and the application of the agrarian reform in 1964, caused its disintegration and in some cases its disappearance. Hence the importance of determining what still remains and analyzing the relationship between the old and current settlements located in these lands. The study starts with a historical analysis that will determine the origin and location of the settlements, followed by a contrastive analysis with the current situation. This approach will lead to a reflection on the cultural, productive heritage and impact caused by the Jesuit presence.