November 18, 2019
November 17, 2019
Leyes de Indias
Why are so many of the capital cities of most Latin American countries in the mountains?
Short answer: Pirates.
These rules applied well into the dying days of the Spanish Empire, even after the golden age of piracy ended. It applied even to total backwaters like Los Angeles, which was founded in 1781. If you look at downtown L.A., it follows all of the rules of the Laws of the Indies. Downtown LA is a day's horseback ride from the ocean, the old city's streets are set on a rigid grid at an oblique angle to north, and it's built on the L.A. River, which provides a reliable water source.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at 11:58 AM
