Settlement and Consequences - Spain

Question 1

Why was Isabela founded?

Answer 1

-On 28 November 1493 the second expedition reached La Navidad and found it was burnt to the ground.

-Columbus was told Spaniards had been stealing women and stealing gold which angered the Tainos.

-A site for a new settlement was used and named ‘Isabela’ in honour of Queen Isabella

Didn’t prosper beacuse:
-The sitewas

-Spanish greed as they wanted to find gold rather than settle and plant crops.

Question 2

Why was Santo Domingo built?

Answer 2

-Columbus had left his brother in charge of Isabella when he returned to Spain - his brother began new settlement - Santo.

-It was by the Ozama River that had lots of fish and the potential to be a habour.

-The soils was fertile and there were many fruit trees.

Question 3

When did Columbus return to Haiti (Santo Domingo) after exploring and what did he find?

Answer 3

-In 1498

-The Tainos were angry by constant demanding of food and women.

-The Spaniards were in open revolt against Bartholomew’s authority.

-Columbus restored authority by:

-Pardoning the Spanish rebels

-Giving each of the rebels a parcel of land.

-Providing native labourers to work this land.

Question 4

Who was told to take over from Columbus as governor and when?

Answer 4

-Francisco de Bobadilla

-Appointed in spring of 1499

-He arrived in Haiti in September 1500.

Question 5

How did Columbus develop gold mining in Haiti?

Answer 5

-In 1495 he focused on the. Centre of Haiti.

-He destroyed the native population living there and set up a chain of forts.

-Natives were forced to pay tribute to the Spaniards (usually paid in cotton or vegetables)

-When tributes were paid in Gold Columbus tried hard to find the source of the gold but never did which further emphasised his incompetence as governor.

Question 6

How did Bobadilla develop Gold mining in Haiti?

Answer 6

-Allowed any Spaniard to try mining.

-Only requirement was that they had to pay 1/11 of what they found to the Crown.

-300kg found in 1501 alone.

-Natives did most of the physical work though.

Question 7

How did disease and death effect the New World?

Answer 7

-Spanish brought smallpox and measles to which the natives had no immunity.

-This had a devastating effect on the native population

-In Haiti there were 500,000 natives in 1492. By 1507 this had fallen to 60,000

Question 8

How were the natives who resisted exploitation effected in the New World expedition? (________ massacre)

Answer 8

-Natives who resisted slavery were treated brutally e.g. attacked by hunting dogs.

-Lead to Jaragua massacre in 1503 where the Spanish killed much of the Tainos population.

Control and Subjugation: Establishing control over the Taíno people to ensure a steady labor force for Spanish colonial enterprises.

Fear of Resistance: The Spanish sought to eliminate any potential resistance from the indigenous populations, ensuring compliance and reducing threats to their authority.

Demonstration of Power:The massacre served as a brutal demonstration of Spanish power and a warning to other indigenous groups about the consequences of defiance.

Question 9

Who established the encomienda system?

Answer 9

Nicolas de Ovando, who replaced Bobadilla in 1502.

Question 10

What was the Casa de Contratacion and what did it do?

Answer 10

-House of Trade in Seville

-Approve all the voyages.

-Collect all taxes levied in the Indies and Spain.

-Licence captains and train navigators.

Question 11

The Role of Catholic missionaries in Haiti?

Answer 11

-Ovando set sail from Spain 1502 - had 17 Franciscans and four priests.

-Franciscans set up order in Haiti - to convert and baptise natives.

-1503 - Ferdinand and Isabella - rules for the education of the Indians into ‘civilised’ christian life:
-live in towns under Spanish protector and pay taxes.
-taught Christianity and baptised, expected to give up non-christian beliefs.
-Taught to read, write and dress ‘decently.

Question 12

What were the Laws of Burgos and when were they introduced?

Answer 12

-In December 1512

-Ordered by Ferdinand and applied to the whole of the New World.

-Maintained the encomienda system.

-Allowed Spain to punish natives who broke the laws.

-Required natives to learn Christianity.

-Regulated Indians’ house of work, housing etc.

Question 13

What was the significance of the Law of Burgos?

Answer 13

-In practice the encomienda system turned the natives into slaves.

-Many Spaniards took advantage and would abuse the natives.

Question 14

What were some of Cortes’ actions as governor (of Mexico)?

Answer 14

-Built Mexico City on the site of Tenochtitlan.
-All Aztec religious temples were destroyed.
-renamed it ‘Mexico city’ and called the land ‘New Spain’.

-Developed Mexican agriculture by importing sheep, cattle, pigs , goats.
-Imported sugar cane, vines and wheat from Spain - wanted New Spain to be self-sufficient.

Developed industry:
-manufacture of gunpowder.
-discovery of iron - lead to manufacture of artillery.
-sugar cane plantations .
-Wool from sheep - textile industry.

-Killed many Aztec religious and political leaders so he couldn’t be challenged:

-From 1523 friars were sent to Mexico to convert natives into Christianity.

Question 15

Why was Cortes removed as governor of New Spain?

Answer 15

-Velázquez was determined to claim the wealth for himself.

-Rumours of greed spread to the Spanish court.

-Charles I was worried Cortes had too much power and needed to control him.

-In 1528 Cortes returned to Spain to explain himself to the king, whom demoted him, but allowed him to keep his land.

Question 16

How were the Aztecs effected by Spanish rule?

Answer 16

-Forced conversion to Christianity.

-destruction of Aztec religion and leaders - led to the fall of Aztec society.

-Disease caused the population to go from 25 million in 1519 to 6.2 million in 1555.
-this lead to lack of workers - famine.

-New industries caused Aztecs to become slaves - enforced by econmienda system - many worked to death.

-As many Aztec leaders were killed the Aztecs had and had to look to the Spanish for leadership.

-Aztecs had to learn Spanish and Spanish Alphabet for trade and to document their history.

Question 17

What was the significance of silver in Bolivia and Mexico?

Answer 17

-Legends of undiscovered wealth (e.g. El Dorado) encouraged investment in projects from Spanish merchants.

-This lead to further expansions of territory e.g. Argentina.

-Resulted in increased colonisation of the new world.

-Vast amounts of wealth was produced (25% of the bullion sent directly to Spanish treasury).

-Spanish government need to claim more control of these areas.

-In the 1540s silver made up 85% of gold and silver shipped to Spain ( by weight ) and 40% of the value.

-Some silver was also made into coins for local new world trade.

-By the 1550s the total economic value of silver outweighed that of gold.

Question 18

How did the Spanish government keep the empire well run and functioning ?

Answer 18

Made sure there were enough supplies of food and water for the Spanish conquerors.

Rewarded those who had supported and fought alongside leading conquistadors:
-to solve internal unrest - many wanted rewards to return to Spain or to continue adventure.
-rewards were necessary to ensure conquest.

-Set up an official and legal way of governing the New World which ensured true Spanish control over the New World:
-legalise the initial arrangements made by the conquistadors - ensuring the worked under the crown of Spain.

Question 19

What was the role of the encomienda system?

Answer 19

-A Spaniard (often conquistador) was allocated land and workers by the Spanish government and became an encomendero.

-Could demand tribute and work from natives, but in return had to teach natives about Spanish life.

-In practice the natives were exploited.

Question 20

Encomendero duties

Answer 20

-He protected the natives on his Encomienda from other natives or Europeans who might try to
exploit them

-Appointed and paid Christian priests who worked in the villages teaching the other natives about Christianity

-Shared the cost of military defence in the area with other encomenderos

Question 21

Effects of the Encomienda System

Answer 21

-Encomenderos ruled their land with laws made in Spain

-Land was worked to produce whatever the Spanish needed for example: cloth, silver, gold and maize

-Natives were forced into slavery for the Spanish

-The Spanish allowed Encomiendas to be passed from father to son so families stayed in the New World, creating a stable society. However, it also lead to mini dictatorships.

Question 22

What was the Council of the Indies ? When was it formed ?

Answer 22

-1524

-Based in Spain

-Consisted of a president and eight councillors

-Controlled all the administration, justice and religious matters to do with the New World

-They appointed viceroys and discussed any dispatches received

-They would then advise the king’

-Once a royal decision was made it was sent to the viceroys through the council

Question 23

What were the roles of the viceroys?

Answer 23

-Council of Indies appointed viceroys to govern the Spanish territory.

-Two viceroys (one in Mexico City and one in Lima).

-Peruvian viceroy was superior.

-Had great power as they acted on behalf of the Spanish government.

-Poor communication meant decisions took 8 months to be approved.

-Governed town life through cabildos ( town councils ).

-Justice was independent from the viceroys - it was the responsibility of the audiencia courts and their judges - courts were run by officials appointed by Spain.

Question 24

What were the New Laws?

Answer 24

-Signed on 20 November 1542.

-Made it illegal to enslave natives.

-Amount of tribute that could be collected was limited and all other work had to be paid for.

-Encomiendas had to be passed to the Spanish government on the death of the encomendero.

Question 25

What was the significance of the New Laws?

Answer 25

-Laws were intended to improve rights of native people.

-However they were opposed by the viceroy of Peru and encomenderos and they refused to implement them.

-Lead to revolts in Peru (the most important in 1544).

Question 26

What was the Conquistador revolt in Peru in 1544?

Answer 26

-The New Laws were unpopular as they took away the power of encomenderos.

-Lead to a serious revolt lead by Gonzalo Pizarro (Francisco Pizzaro’s brother).

-Rebellion was initially successful and Gonzalo ruled the Inca territory for two years after killing the Peruvian viceroy.

-However the Spanish army arrived and executed Gonzalo.

-Charles I suspended most of the New Laws but kept the one about an encomienda going to the Spanish Crown after death.

-As encomenderos died the Spanish Crown regained control over the region.

-The lives of natives didn’t really improve.

-Spanish authority commemorated the restoration of the peace through the founding of La Paz in 1548.

Question 27

What was the significance of La Paz?

Answer 27

-Was founded in Bolivia in 1548 on the site of an Inca city.

-Founded to commemorate the ending of Gonzalo Pizarro’s revolt and demonstrate Spain’s authority.

-Became the administrative centre of the Spanish empire.

-The Spanish viceroy was based here.

-Founded close to trade routes between mines (Potosi and Oruro).

-Located high up in the Andes so hard to attack.

-Represented the peak of the conquistador conquest.