Between 1613 and 1767, many social actors participated in the construction of the Jesuit Block. As in many other aspects of Colonial society, division of labour was very noticeable. Most of the productive activities were carried out by forced labour. In the case of the Society of Jesus, records show that by 1767 the owned around 2000 slaves.
Many of these enslaved men, women and children worked in this block. They lived in Rancherías, a group of simple dwellings in the south-border of the block. They were skilled masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, weavers, bakers ¡and musicians! They formed the orchestra and choir of the church.
After the Jesuits were expelled by the King in 1767, the Junta de Temporalidades (Board of Temporalities) made an inventory of the property of the Society of Jesus. The records also include the name and age (and sometimes trade) of every enslaved person owned by the Society of Jesus in Córdoba. These documents are held by the University’s Historical Archive, and they are of great interest to researchers and people who wish to find out more about Argentina’s African roots.
For this reason, the Jesuit block is listed a as Site of Memory that bears witness to the history of the slave trade and slavery. We intend to educate and to increase awareness and dialogue about it.