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Difficulty: MediumMaroon Societies and Flight from Enslavement

Read the passage below:

'The main leader of the rebellious Negroes is a Negro named Bioho, who is so bold that he calls himself king... He has established a fortified settlement (palenque) in the rugged mountains of María, from which they launch raids on plantations to liberate more people and secure provisions, defying the authority of Cartagena.'
—Adapted from reports of Spanish colonial officials in Cartagena de Indias, c. 1600–1620

Based on the passage and your knowledge of the African diaspora, the establishment of communities like the one led by Bioho best illustrates which of the following historical developments?

  1. The practice of grand maroonage to establish independent, self-governing communities.Answer
  2. B
    The strategy of petit maroonage, where individuals temporarily fled to negotiate concessions from slaveholders.
  3. C
    The reliance of self-liberated individuals on covert everyday resistance to slowly subvert the plantation system.
  4. D
    The coordination of a large-scale conspiracy designed to completely overthrow Spanish colonial rule in South America.

Answer

The practice of grand maroonage to establish independent, self-governing communities.
The correct answer is correct because Benkos Biohó's establishment of the palenque of San Basilio represents grand maroonage—the creation of long-term, independent, and self-governing communities by self-liberated Africans. These communities actively defended their autonomy through warfare, agriculture, and negotiation with colonial powers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the historical context and actions described in the passage.
The passage describes Biohó establishing a fortified settlement (palenque) in a mountainous region to live independently and launch raids to free others.
Identifying the nature of the flight—permanent community-building versus temporary absence—is necessary to distinguish forms of resistance.
2
Apply the definition of maroonage to the actions of the group.
The creation of permanent, self-sufficient, and fortified communities to escape enslavement is defined as grand maroonage.
This helps select the historical development that matches the scale and permanence of the community described in the text.

Key Concept

Distinguishing grand maroonage from other forms of resistance and understanding its geographic expression in the Spanish Americas.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Maroon Societies and Flight from Enslavement

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