What was the social hierarchy of Spanish colonies?

The social hierarchy of Spanish colonies was primarily structured around a Caste System that placed peninsulares (Spanish-born individuals) at the top, followed by criollos (American-born descendants of Spaniards). Below them were mestizos (people of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry), mulattos (mixed European and African ancestry), and Indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans at the bottom. This hierarchy influenced access to education, political power, and economic opportunities, reinforcing social stratification throughout Spanish colonial rule.