Early Latin America

Spaniards and Portuguese: From Reconquest to Conquest 

Geographic location of Iberian peninsula meant conflict and thus a strong military tradition

Mid-15th century Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile unified kingdoms and got rid of religious and ethnic diversity in their kingdoms

1492 Fall of Granada and economic support to Columbus

Iberian Society and Tradition

Traditionally, Spanish and Portuguese lived in cities- they transported this to the American Indian countryside

Use of African slaves already common on Iberian peninsula-- merchants use of slaves

Political centralization of Portugal and Castile with well-trained bureaucracy similar to China

Heavy influence of religion and church

The Chronology of Conquest

1492-1570-  conquest-  administration and economy set up

1570-1700 – consolidation 18th century- reform and reorganization

that intensified the colonial relationship

The Caribbean Crucible

Conquest of Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama Arrival of Spanish women and African slaves

represented a shift from an area of conquest to one of settlement

Agricultural Taino people provided enough surplus labor so began the encomienda system-

But native population quickly decimated and for 200 years a backwater until sugar and slaves allowed it to surge again

Disease and conquest-  Bartolome de Las Casas – struggle for justice

The Paths of Conquest

Conquests usually done by an individual or small group with government support

Conquest directed at Mexico and South America Hernan Cortes -conquest of the Aztec in Tenochtitlan in 1521 (defeat

of Montezuma II)- won partly because of help from Aztec enemies and also from disease, starvation, and battle

1535- New Spain Franciso Pizarro and the Inca-  1533 Cuzco fell.  By 1540 most of

Peru under Spanish control although active resistance continued Spanish expeditions spread out then to North America and South

America:  Francisco Vazquez de Coronado in N. America and Pedro de Valdivia in S.America

By 1570 there were 192 Spanish cities

The Conquerors

Crown received 1/5 of treasure Conquerors came from all walks of life

and were hoping to better themselves and serve God

Technological edge (horses, firearms, steel weapons) gave them great advantage

Conquest and Morality

Justification of Spanish rule and destruction by Juan Gines de Sepulveda versus Las Casas

Huge population declines due to epidemics and mistreatment disrupted American societies

Exploitation of the Indians

No interference with aspects that served colonial goals or conflict with Spanish authority or religion.  Indian nobility in Mexico and Peru, for example, remained middlemen between the tax and labor demands.

By mid-16th century enslavement of Indians forbidden

Colonial governments increasingly extracted labor and taxes from native peoples 

Colonial Economies and Governments

Spanish America an agrarian society- 80% of the people worked on land

Mining was the essential activity and the basis of Spain’s rule in West Indies-  silver formed the basis of Spain’s wealth in America

The Silver Heart of Empire

1545-1565 major silver discoveries and mining towns developed.  Potosi in Peru and Zacatecas in Mexico

Labor first provided by slaves and encomienda workers and then replaced by labor draft

Used European mining techniques 1/5 profit went to crown Mining stimulated other parts of the economy

Haciendas and Villages

Family-owned rural estates developed (haciendas)

Labor force came from Native Americans and mestizos

Haciendas became basis of wealth for local aristocracy

Industry and Commerce

Small textile workshops- produced cloth and colonies no longer depended on Europe for basic goods

Spain tightly controlled the silver trade-  Board of Trade in Seville.  Worked with merchant guild- consulado

Galleons- large heavily armed ships- carried the silver belonging to the crown

Problems-  inflation and cost of keeping up the colonies 

Ruling an Empire: State and Church

Sovereignty of colonies rested on papal grant- Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), which awarded lands to the east to Spain and to the west to Portugal

Spanish empire became great bureaucratic system built on a juridical core and staffed by lawyers

King ruled through the Council of the Indies 16th century- Spain created 2 viceroyalties- one in Mexico

and one in Peru. Clergy formed another branch of state apparatus Cultural life around religion- architecture, books, schools Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz- author, poet, musician

Brazil: The First Plantation Colony

1500 Pedro Alvares Cabral landed in Brazil, but Portugal didn’t pay attention to it until 1532

Portuguese nobles given land to colonize and develop

Sugar plantations- key to economic success-  worked on by African slaves

1549 Portuguese king sent an official to create a royal capital at Salvador

Sugar and Slavery

Brazil became the leader in sugar production in 17th century

150,000 slaves by the end of the 17th century (1/2 of population)

Brazil’s social hierarchy reflected its plantation and slave origins

Run similarly to the Spanish colonies Portugal was different because it had important colonies

in Asia and Africa Portuguese colonies more dependent on Portugal b/c lack

of intellectual life in Brazil

Brazil’s Age of Gold

Slowly international competition would increase other colonies’ sugar production and push the price down

1695 Gold strikes-  slaves provided labor-  this opened the interior of the country to settlement

1735-1760 reached its height and made Brazil the greatest source of gold

Rio de Janeiro became capital of the colony in 1763

Multiracial Societies

Society of CastasMiscegenation Mestizos- Indian/European mix- had

higher status than the Indians Growth of mestizo and mulatto population

to about 40% Development of peninsulares and Creoles Women in subordinate positions

18th Century Reforms

Colonies gained new importance with population growth in Europe and revived strength of Spain and Portugal

Shifting Balances of Politics and TradeSpain weakened by wars, poor rulers, economic

crisisFrance, Britain, Holland taking islands in the

CaribbeanWar of Spanish Succession and Treaty of

Utrecht- recognized the Bourbon family

Bourbon Reforms

Charles III worked to strengthen Spain- using some French models

Colonies- new viceroyalties created in New Granada and Rio de la Plata

Spain involved in the Anglo-French wars, where it lost Florida and Havana, California was settled

Growing dissatisfaction among colonial elite

Pombal and Brazil

Marquis of Pombal directed Portuguese affairs from 1755-1776- authoritarian leader

Developed the interior of BrazilRio de Janeiro became capital

Reforms, Reactions, Revolt

Mid-18th century boom in population and productivity

Comunero revolt 1871, Tupac Amaru rising- increased dissatisfaction with imperial policies

Social divisions hindered effective revolt until Spain and Portugal were weakened by internal European politics