Resumen

LOPEZ CASTILLO, Gilberto. Composiciones de tierras en un 'país lejano': Culiacán y Chiametla, 1691-1790. Actores sociales y mecanismos institucionales. Región y sociedad [online]. 2010, vol.22, n.48, pp.243-282. ISSN 2448-4849.

This article examines the role of the authorities, the distinct legal avenues and the impact that legislation had in regard to the legalization of land titles on an imperial scale during the 18th century in the Culiacán and Chiametla provinces, situated in northwest New Spain. In the final decade of the 17 ^th century, the land judges arrived and were charged with the task of organizing land tenancy. Henceforth, whoever occupied lands in order to establish a ranch or for cattle grazing was obliged to pay the king based upon both the value of the land and the expenses involved in its development. While this organizational process occurred much later with respect to other regions of the monarchy, it satisfied the two prerequisites of the institution: organizing land tenancy and providing royal income.

Palabras llave : lands; land judges; institutions; northwest New Spain; legalization of land titles; colonial regime.