Cofradías en Cuenca (Ecuador): Un análisis de su impacto social y religioso desde 1603 hasta 1793

Abstract

This study analyzes the social and religious impact of brotherhoods in Cuenca, Ecuador, between 1603 and 1793. These lay associations played a fundamental role in organizing the spiritual life and social cohesion of the colonial city. Through processions, festivities, care for the sick, religious education, and the organization of mutual support networks, the brotherhoods consolidated themselves as vital structures in shaping the community fabric. The paper examines their hierarchical structure, their charitable functions, and their ability to adapt to political transformations such as the Bourbon reforms of the 18th century. It also highlights the differences between indigenous, highlander, Creole, and mestizo brotherhoods, revealing how these organizations operated both as mechanisms of social control and as spaces of resistance and syncretism. Using an interdisciplinary approach that articulates history, sociology, and cultural studies, the research shows that the brotherhoods were not only religious expressions, but also economic, political, and cultural actors that transcended their liturgical dimension to become agents of social transformation. In short, the brotherhoods of Cuenca reflect the complexities of a colonial society in which faith, power, and solidarity were deeply intertwined.