Spanish Empire
How Spain Tried to Dominate the World | Mikaela & Taheera
Introduction
Places they colonized 1500s-1600s
- North & South America = Incan & Aztec Empires
- Africa; Western Sahara (1884-1975) & Morocco (1911-1956)
- The Pacific; Philippines (1521-1898)
- The Netherlands (1579-1743)
REASONS FOR COLONIZATION
POLITICAL
Bible and Gun Theory = Convert or die
ECONOMIC
Early exploration in the 16th century revealed areas with abundant resources. In the Americas, silver and gold were mined. These colonies were run as an extension of Spain and all profits were committed to benefiting the "mother land". The objective of the conquistadors was to obtain precious metals, which benefited the Crown as well. However, this was done at the expense of agricultural development. Imported precious metals, raw materials, spices from colonies
- Colonies = outlet for Spain’s manufactured goods
- Growing Spanish economy = flourished, Spain’s golden age
- Enhanced their own power
SOCIAL
- Sincerely believed that the advanced society should rule over the lesser one to improve on it = natural
- They believed the indigenous were barbaric and inhumane
EFFECTS OF COLONIZATION
political
Spain's Experience
- Were seen as bloodthirsty conquerors
- Anti-Spanish sentiment resulted in demonizing of Spanish empire
- Had little to no political rights
- Civilizations were destroyed
Economic
Spain's Experience
- Their economy flourished thanks to the resources (gold, silver, food, etc.)
- Inflation (depended on their colonies' resources - precious metals, affecting the poor and those with fixed incomes negatively [1561-1600])
Indigenous' Experience
- Loss of resources for themselves, were milked
- Genocide linked to slavery through exploitation of the population
- Labour system encomienda and repartimiento (allowed colonists to use forced labour)
- Restrictions were imposed on colonies to prevent competition with Spain
The Spanish Empire, Silver, & Runaway Inflation: Crash Course World History #25
Social
Spain's Experience
- Became known as The Black Legend
- Demonized by the rest of Europe
- Their achievements = ignored in favour of classifying the Spanish as greedy and cruel
Indigenous' Experience
- 20 million indigenous died from horrors of slavery/disease (though they did try and fight back – undermining Spanish authority, fighting in battles, leaving homeland)
- Loss of culture (language and traditions) --> ex. Aztec (1519) & Incan (1532) civilizations
- Had their own class system; emperor, nobles, powerful priests and religion; human sacrifice to appease Gods --> overruled
- Inca = had their own systems which Spanish adopted but to benefit Spain & was bad for natives
- Had similar structures w/ both civilizations that merged; administrative, similar link b/n religious & secular power = easy for Spanish to step into power positions of emperors & send their own administrators