Thesis Title
The Reign of “King Henequen”: The Rise and Fall of Yucatán’s Export Crop from the Pre-Columbian Era through 1930
Department or Program
History
Abstract
This thesis will examine the massive impact of henequen on the state of Yucatán, Mexico, specifically focusing on the time period from the mid-nineteenth century until the year 1930. Henequen is a fibrous plant that is native to the Yucatán peninsula and was a useful tool in pre-Columbian Maya civilization. The Spanish arrival in Mexico brought elites who eventually began to see the plant’s potential for profit. Henequen became a major export crop of Mexico and revenue flowed into Yucatán. In less than a half-century, from the late 1800s to early 1900s, Yucatán became one of the richest states in Mexico. This thesis will discuss the original uses of the henequen plant in Mayan society and show how the industry evolved as a result of a great demand for henequen fiber in the United States, especially during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It will then show how the henequen industry revolutionized Yucatecan society. Social classes became more defined between the millionaire elites of Mérida and the impoverished hacienda laborers who were treated like slaves. In addition, society was “modernized” with new railroads, ports, and amenities. Finally, this thesis will examine the downfall of the henequen industry and show how the policies of the Mexican Revolution and the dependence on an individual crop eventually led to disaster for the state.
Level of Access
Open Access
First Advisor
Adair, Jennifer
Date of Graduation
Spring 5-2014
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Recommended Citation
Rioux, Nyle Lucien, "The Reign of “King Henequen”: The Rise and Fall of Yucatán’s Export Crop from the Pre-Columbian Era through 1930" (2014). Honors Theses. 106.
https://scarab.bates.edu/honorstheses/106
Number of Pages
170
Components of Thesis
1 pdf file
Open Access
Available to all.