Abstract
The Galapagos Islands are well known for their fauna and flora as well as for their role in the development of the theory of evolution. There have been extensive works on the natural history of the archipelago but little has been written on the social history of the islands. The small amount of work that has been done has focused on the discovery of the islands and their twentieh century development. This thesis will fill an important gap by presenting a pioneering study of the social history of the first colony of the Galapagos Islands. It will look at the role that Afro-Ecuadorians played in the establishment of La Floreana, and will explore the colony as a reflection of the social and racial structures that prevailed after independence in the coast of Ecuador. This thesis will explore how the historical memory of this project was shaped by the social perceptions of the time. It will also analyze how imperialism was a key factor in both the history of the colony and its commemoration.
