Patterns of Colonization explores the paradigms of two distinct societies born out of the influence of European imperialism, African slavery and extern factors that influenced the Caribbean. It also examines the consequences and far reaching impact on the culture of this region.
The author begins by giving a brief history of the origins of European exploration, mapping the monopoly of the Iberian peninsular to the de-monopolization by emerging nations.
The earliest Caribbean settlements and institutions mirrored their European metropolis societies. The enticement of opportunity further propelled the migration of more European to this new frontier. Religious perversions were also another medium through which these imperialists came, and thus the various colonies reflected such connotations. Women played a fundamental role in these new colonies. They were seen not only as re-producing agents but instruments through which they could foster the traditions of the motherland.
Spanish society was shaped according to three types of perspectives. The first being the official secular or state policy, where modern ideologies correlated with national power and political affluence of the monarchy. The religious policy investigates the impacts of the social revolution, the Reformation and the Treaty of Cateau Cambresis, which molded the religious affiliations of both crown and its colonists. This concept later penetrated into the colonies. Individuals shaped their own destiny although there were influences from both state and church.
The quest for colonization fostered the growth of distinguishing types of societies, which were the purpose of European colonization, the settler colonies and the exploitation colonies. To a certain extent every settler colony possessed elements of the exploitation model and vice versa. The writer notes that the importance is not to focus on the positives or negatives, but rather to look at them as a collective entity to determine their impact.