Overview
This lecture covers Spain's colonization of the Americas, focusing on conquest, labor systems, the shift to African slavery, and the casta (caste) social hierarchy imposed in its colonies.
Spanish Conquest and Expansion
- Spain was the leading imperial power in the Americas from 1492 onward.
- Columbus’s voyages established Spain’s initial claim in the Caribbean.
- Spaniards quickly shifted focus to extracting gold, often by force from indigenous groups.
- Spanish conquistadors conquered Caribbean islands and sought new wealth on the mainland.
- Legal justification for conquest was issued through the Requerimiento, claiming papal authority over the Americas.
Major Conquests: Aztec and Inca Empires
- Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire (1519-1521) despite small numbers, aided by disease and indigenous allies.
- Francisco Pizarro used similar tactics to defeat the Inca Empire in South America.
- Spanish control brought vast wealth in gold and silver from these regions.
The Encomienda System and Labor Shifts
- The encomienda system granted Spaniards land and indigenous labor in exchange for supposed protection and religious instruction.
- In reality, the encomienda system was a form of coerced labor or slavery.
- Wealth extraction relied on indigenous labor for mining and plantations.
- Indigenous labor declined due to escape (knowledge of land) and deaths from European diseases.
Shift to African Slavery
- To solve labor shortages, Spain imported enslaved Africans through the Atlantic slave trade.
- African slaves were less likely to escape and more resistant to European diseases.
- The transatlantic "middle passage" had a high mortality rate (~20%) due to disease and malnutrition.
- European demand increased African warfare and slave trade within Africa.
The Casta (Caste) System in Spanish America
- Spanish America imposed the casta system, a rigid social hierarchy based on race and ancestry.
- Spanish-born colonists (pure Spanish) occupied the top; indigenous and Africans were at the bottom.
- Around 40 racial categories determined education, occupations, and tribute responsibilities.
- The physical layout of settlements reflected and reinforced social hierarchy.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Conquistador — Spanish conqueror of the Americas.
- Requerimiento — Legal document asserting Spain's right to rule the Americas by papal decree.
- Encomienda System — Grant of land and forced indigenous labor to Spanish colonists.
- Middle Passage — Transatlantic journey transporting enslaved Africans to the Americas.
- Casta System — Racial and social hierarchy imposed in Spanish colonies.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Prepare for Unit 2: study details about Spanish labor systems and reforms.
- Review unit notes and key terms for understanding colonial social structures.