Amatitlán

Amatitlán (Spanish pronunciation: [amatiˈtlan]) is a town in the Guatemala department of Guatemala.

History

Monastery and doctrine of Order of Preachers

After the conquest, the Spanish crown focused on the Catholic indoctrination of the natives. Human settlements founded by royal missionaries in the New World were called "Indian doctrines" or simply "doctrines". Originally, friars had only temporary missions: teach the Catholic faith to the natives, and then transfer the settlements to secular parishes, just like the ones that existed in Spain at the time; the friars were supposed to teach Spanish and Catholicism to the natives. And when the natives were ready, they could start living in parishes and contribute with mandatory tithing, just like the people in Spain.

But this plan never materialized, mainly because the Spanish crown lost control of the regular orders as soon as their friars set course to America. Shielded by their apostolic privileges granted to convert natives into Catholicism, the missionaries only responded to their order local authorities, and never to that of the Spanish government or the secular bishops. The orders local authorities, in turn, only dealt with their own order and not with the Spanish crown. Once a doctrine had been established, the protected their own economic interests, even against those of the King and thus, the doctrines became Indian towns that remains unaltered for the rest of the Spanish colony.

Amatitlán (municipality)

Amatitlán Municipality is a municipality in Veracruz, Mexico. It is located about 231 km from state capital Xalapa to the south-east. It has a surface of 169.4 km2. It is located at 18°26′N 95°44′W / 18.433°N 95.733°W / 18.433; -95.733.

Borders

Amatitlán Municipality is delimited to the north-east by Tlacotalpan Municipality, to the south-east by José Azueta Municipality, to the south-west by Cosamaloapan Municipality, to the west by Ixmatlahuacan Municipality, and to the north-west by Acula Municipality.

Products

It produces maize and beans.

References

External links