Considerations Concerning French Urban Influence on Spanish Colonial Cities on the Island of Cuba

Abstract

This paper analyzes the French urban influence on cities created by Spaniards on the island of Cuba from the 16th to 19th century. Due to its geographical location, the island of Cuba acquired great influence from the American and European continent during the Spanish Colonial period. The study was accomplished through the recompilation of the principal 58 cities created in Cuba during the colonial period, the analysis of their different urban types and the evaluation in several cities of the main characteristic of their French influence. The evolution of the Hispanic-French relationship and the historical events that affected the Caribbean took place on many cities created during the last century of the colonial period. This is evident in the variations in their urban structure and block divisions.