After conquests ended and settlements were built,who stood atop the social hierarchy in Spanish America?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Peninsulares, or people born in Spain, were at the top of the social hierarchy in Spanish America. They held all of the highest positions in government and society.

Answer: B 
 Criollos, or people of Spanish descent born in the Americas, were the next in line in the social hierarchy. They often held positions of wealth and power, but were still subordinate to the Peninsulares.

Option A, Mestizos, were people of mixed race and were often discriminated against in Spanish American society. Option D, Conquistadores, were the original conquerors but were not necessarily the ones who held power in the settled colonial society. Option E, Aztec chiefs, held power before the arrival of the Spanish but were no longer relevant in the colonial social hierarchy.

After Conquests Ended and Settlements Were Built,who Stood Atop the Social