ABSTRACT
LIMA was not only the social and governmental centre of South America, but, for the greater part of the colonial period, it was also the commercial centre; and the interests of the south-eastern colonies were sacrificed to the privileges of the Peruvian merchants. The beginning of the last quarter of the eighteenth century witnessed, however, a significant revolution in the affairs of these colonies. The most important events of this revolution were the foundation of the viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata, in 1776; the introduction of a large measure of commercial freedom, in 1778; and the reorganization of the administration by the publication of the Ordinance of Intendants.
