Land and convent. The economic dynamics of religious orders in the Cuban rural space: 18th and 19th centuries

The following article analyzesone of the less discussed issues in Cuban national history, viz. the economic peculiarities of the Catholic Church during the Cuban colonial period, specifically the economic dynamics established by religious orders in rural contexts. This is done by using bibliographic sources and national archives. Through a general assessment, the article shows the commercial and economic character of the actions performed by the regular clergy in the exploitation, occupation and speculation related to their agrarian properties.