Lovers of the Fatherland. The Viniegra-Cambronero socio-comercial network:

data about the Economic Societies of Friends of the Country and the social ascent in Guatemala at the end of the 18th century.

Abstract

In the middle of the 18th century, "patriotic gatherings" arose in Spain, organized at the beginning
by Francisco Javier María de Munibe, Count of Peñaflorida, which later became known as the Real
Sociedad Bascongada or Sociedad Económica, as the meetings were later called. which were formed
by great personalities, who dealt with issues related to science, academia, philosophy and culture.
At the end of that century, Royal Economic Societies of Friends were formed in the main Spanish
capitals, such as Seville, Madrid, Valencia, Zaragoza, including the territory of America.
Guatemala was no exception and, thanks to the meetings held by personalities from the political,
economic and enlightened sectors in Guatemala, they managed to put Enlightenment ideas into
practice, thanks to the participation of individuals who, for one reason or another, they were
weaving a socio-commercial network, influenced by family ties, political ideas and friendship
relations. The commercial network of the company "Viniegra y Cambronero" formed a sociocommercial structure in the country, not as extensive or influential as the commercial network of
Aycinena, but they did have socio-commercial relations with people who were part of the Royal
Economic Society of Friends of the Country of Guatemala that offered a window of opportunity in
trade and political power relations and social ties.