“Y lo demás se repartió en los hijos del pueblo”. Las cofradías indígenas tzetzales de los valles de Teopisca, Chiapas y su actividad crediticia. Siglo XVIII

Abstract

Historiography has demonstrated the importance of credit living within the different spheres of the colonial economy. Its importance derived from the moneyshortage felt in all the economic and social sectors. In the state of Chiapas, the credit giving activity of the indigenous cofradias was directed to help popular economy on the local level. This article pretends to demonstrate the influence the institution had over the economic activities of the Indian villages in Chiapas during the 18th century. By analyzing the dynamics of the cofradias, of those villages located within Teopisca´s Valley, I´ll present the primary characteristics of this credit giving institution, the parts of population that were benefited as well as the economic activities in which these small sums were invested.