Colonial Rule in America & 18th-Century Spain
Establishment of Colonial Rule: The Colonization of America (16th and 17th Centuries)
The conquest of the New World began with the voyages of Columbus, the conquest of the West Indies, and the discovery of the Pacific Ocean. From that moment, the conquest of the mainland began. Many lands were conquered in America during the sixteenth century, and much of the continent was dominated. The operation was systematized and organized. The first deals generated numerous cases of exploitation of indigenous labor, in near-slavery conditions. The monarchs tried to prevent this after complaints from some religious figures. The Indians were incorporated into Castile, and Castilian institutions were imitated to organize their own government, such as the viceroyalty (the Viceroy was the king’s representative in these areas). These were divided into governorates, governed by governors subordinate to the Viceroy. Districts (areas where there was an extensive indigenous population) were similar to the governorates. The basic administrative units were councils, whose organization was similar to that of Castilian towns:
- Hearings: The highest judicial body. They ensured the implementation of laws and controlled the actions of the viceroy.
- Indian Council: Body for deciding American affairs.
- Recruitment House: Had the task of organizing and controlling all commerce and navigation with America.
The rapid discovery of precious metals led to the dictation of standards of operation and marketing. The encomienda was established, which gave new settlers groups of indigenous people to work. The mita system involved working with free services by Indians.
18th-Century Spain and Castilla-La Mancha
The majority of illustrated works were oriented towards criticism of the factors responsible for Spain’s economic and intellectual backwardness: the great influence of the church, the low social value of science and technology, and the poor agrarian situation. Carlos III, with the help of enlightened men, launched a series of reforms to address economic and cultural backwardness:
- Economic Reforms: Improved agricultural techniques to increase production and the cultivation of new lands.
- Institutional Reform: More power was given to the municipalities at the expense of local nobility.
- Religious Reforms: Limiting the power of the Inquisition, the expulsion of the Jesuits, and more influence of the king in ecclesiastical office appointments.
- Military Reforms: The mandatory military “fifth system” was established (1 in 5 young men should complete military service).
In the Castilian-Manchego sphere, the century began by returning to the forefront of national politics with the Battle of Almansa and the battles of Brihuega and Villaviciosa, which favored the Bourbon candidate, Felipe de Anjou. Our region supported the French candidate. Regarding the economy, agriculture remained the dominant sector, although livestock farming methods did not vary from the traditional ones. The textile industry experienced significant progress, but the lack of communication, raw materials, and capital provoked the crisis of many businesses. Trade benefited from the improvements in communications with Madrid and Andalusia, and the abolition of customs and tolls. As for society, the noble and clergy block retained its importance, and uprisings due to hunger and high prices also reached our region. In the cultural field, development was fueled by universities and libraries. In conclusion, agricultural and industrial development, and the creation of libraries and schools, demonstrated the enormous vitality of enlightened ideas.