The Establishment if a Spanish Empire from 1537-1548 Flashcards
The legend of El Dorado
Fabulously rich city, hidden in South America.
Local mines produced tons of silver and gold.
Thousands of Europeans explores in search of this mythical city
Significance of the discovery of silver.
Spanish empire grew rich and powerful.
Silver mines opened.
Supported the empire by equipping soldiers during the war against France.
Yet increased prices as merchants raised prices, as trade prices increased
people found it more difficult to afford things
spains economy based on silver, money didnt need to be made in other ways, other industries developed very slowly than other countries
Mining towns.
Deep shafts dug
large labour force needed
animals carried silver away from the mines.
thousands of natives employed.
Cerro Rico Mountain
Silver mines of Potosi
Wealth found was endless by conquistadors
Potosi soon grew to become one of the largest cities in the Americas
Running the Spanish Empire in the New World
Made sure there was enough supplies. Reward the conquistadors and their supporters with land and treasure. Set up systems Put laws in place Find a way to govern the New World.
The New Laws 1542
Illegal to enslave natives
Illegal to force natives to work if they didn’t want to
Only a limited amount of tribute could be collected from natives by encomenderos
Gradual ending of the encomienda system
Council of the Indies
formed in 1524
based in Spain
they would discuss all matters to do with the New World
such as religious matters
The role of the Viceroys
Council of Indies appointed Viceroys to govern Spanish territories
Two viceroys - Mexico City and Lima
Great power as they acted of behalf of the Spanish government
they governed through cabildos, town councils
Audiencias
Justice was managed through the audiencias (courts)
administered royal justice
judges independent of the viceroys
The founding of La Paz 1548
built in modern day Bolivia
commemorating the ending of Pizarro’s revolt
became the administrative centre of the Spanish empire in South America
close to the trade routes near Potosi and Oruro, connecting point
Conquistador revolt in Peru 1544
New Laws were unpopular Reduced encomenderos’ power led to a revolt bu Gonzalo Pizarro brother of Franciso Pizarro initially successful ruled Inca territory for two years Spanish army executed him Led to the founding of La Paz
Conquistadors and gaining precious metals
Acquiring - Gold/silver objects acquired either as gifts or stealing and melted down, shipped back to Spain.
Prospecting - Spanish employed natives to wash out surface gold from streams or rivers. A lot of gold was found this way, yet wasteful labour and silver could not be found by doing this.
Mining - 1530’s Spaniards took seriously to mining and took over existing gold mines from the natives. In the 1540’s extensive deposits of silver were found and silver mines were opened
Encomienda System
Grant of land given to a Spaniard. (encomendero)
natives given to live and work off the land
they had to demand tribute eg gold
protect the natives, prevening europeans exploiting them
appointed and paid christian priests to teach the natives about Christianity.
effects/ importance of the encomienda system
land produced cloth silver gold etc by the natives working on it.
millions of natives became slaves
Spanish government allowed encomienda’s to be passed from father to son, therefore spanish families stayed in the New World creating a stables society.
