Hispanic America: 16th & 17th Centuries – Impact on Spain

Posted on Dec 3, 2024 in Geography

Hispanic America: 16th and 17th Centuries

Spain experienced profound changes during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries arising from the discovery of America and the exploitation of new sea routes. The impact was total (economic, social, political). America would become Hispanicized and Europeanized, while Spain, fueled by American gold and silver, developed a powerful empire and maintained a leading position in Europe during the 16th century. This position declined throughout the 17th century due to the exhaustion of American resources and Europe’s economic crisis.

Discovery and Conquest

The successive enlargements of sea lanes in the 15th century led European navigators to the discovery of America. Atlantic and Mediterranean peoples developed navigation techniques, expanding the known world from the Mediterranean Sea to the North Atlantic (Flanders) and the South Atlantic off the African coast.

In the mid-15th century, the Portuguese reached the Guinea coast, and the Spanish competed with them in Morocco. The competition for these African routes was resolved with the Treaty of Alcaçovas (1479) between Castile and Portugal:

  • African routes along the Cape of Good Hope were granted to Portugal (1488, Bartholomew Diaz), aiming to open a route to India.
  • Islands and North Africa were granted to Castile.

At the end of the 15th century, two significant advances occurred:

  • The Portuguese arrived in India (1498, Vasco da Gama) and controlled Indian trade.
  • The Spanish supported Columbus’s project to sail west to reach the Indies (Stipulations of Santa Fe), unexpectedly discovering America (October 12, 1492).

Seeing Castile’s success, the Portuguese forced a redistribution of the seas (Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494), establishing two areas of influence separated by the meridian of Cape Verde: the East for Portugal and the West for Castile.

First Attempts at Operation: 1492-1519. The Trading Colony

Columbus and the Catholic Monarchs initially aimed to establish a trading colony, with the Admiral governing. They expected to reach India, a land rich in spices. This project had to be modified: Latin America lacked spices and gold, but trade was possible as the indigenous populations could be engaged.

A New Model of Colonization: The Settler Colony (from 1519)

The Spanish began to conquer and settle the discovered territories with settlers. There were two stages: the conquest (1519-1550) and large-scale settlement (from 1550). The operations center was established in Spanish territory.

The Conquest (1519-1550)

Explorations and conquests were carried out. The substantial booty was divided among the king, the captain, and the expedition’s men. The king granted land, fearing the creation of powerful lords.

American Colonization: Indigenous Exploitation

From 1550, the social structure was established, with planters, merchants, craftsmen, missionaries, and indigenous people at various levels of wealth and power.

Use of Indigenous Labor

Columbus attempted to enslave natives for sale in Europe, but the monarchs forbade it. Instead, they were used as labor.

Legal Regulation of Indian Labor

The encomienda system assigned natives to tenants who were supposed to teach them to work, Christianize them, and pay them a salary.

Government and Administration

The Government and Administration of America

During the reign of Charles I, significant gains were made with the conquest of the two major American empires, the Aztec (by Hernán Cortés) and the Inca (by Francisco Pizarro).

The monarchs’ concern for the governance of American subjects led to the creation of institutions:

In Castile:

  • The Council of the Indies: Created by Charles I in 1524. Its functions were political, military, financial, and legal.
  • The House of Trade: Established to regulate commerce with America.

In America:

  • Viceroyalty: Viceroys were appointed by the king on the proposal of the Council of the Indies. Their power was extensive, primarily encompassing the administration of justice, finance, and public order.
  • Audiencia: This institution’s primary purpose was the administration of justice. The Viceroy headed the Audiencia.

Impact of America on Spain

Demographics: Castile, the most populous region of Spain, provided the demographic base for colonization.

Economy: Gold and silver from America provided the financial foundation for Spanish political hegemony in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries. New products also arrived from America, including potatoes, tomatoes, corn, and tobacco.