Viceroyalty of New Spain (jan 1, 1535 – jan 1, 1821)

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Mexico, southwest US, central US and islands in the Caribbean.

TLDR: Spanish crown moved to take power from conquistadors and establish royal authority over both native populations and European settlers, but were thwarted by geography and technology



A uniform, extensive and costly govt., producing wealth from silver and gold plantations in Brazil. They also drained local wealth through heavy taxation.

Big growth of Christianity: catholic church takes converts many

In Peru, native movement began to roll back Christian evangelical effort in 1560--> catholic church eradicating surviving indigenous beliefs

Silver mines in Peru and Mexico + sugar plantations in Brazil dominates economic development of colonial Latin America

encomienda=Spanish forcing Amerindians to provide labor or goods (until 1450s)

New laws of 1542=reform legislation which outlawed the enslavement of Amerindians and limited other forms of forced labor.

After 1600, loss of Amerindian population caused by diseases and growing signs of resistance to conversion lead church to redirect resources from native regions in countryside to growing colonial cities and towns with large European populations

Over time, church became the richest institution in the Spanish colonies, controlling ranches, plantations, vineyards and serving as society's banker

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