Early Latin America

Chapter 19, pgs 404-430

Spain & Portugal: Conquest Iberian peninsula = heart of European

frontier, conflict b/t Christianity & Islam → tradition of military conquest & rule over diverse beliefs

Iberian Society & Tradition

Tradition Urban w/ commoners in

towns & villages Serfdom & slave labor from

cultural frontier Professional bureaucracy of

lawyers Royal nomination of church

officials Trading posts in Africa

American Adaptations?

Chronology of Conquest

1492 to 1570: administration & economy est

1570 to 1700: colonial institutions formalized

1700 to 1800: intensified colonization through reform

Caribbean Crucible

Caribbean proved to be a testing ground Larger populations of natives served as serfs →

encomienda Rumors & hopes led to immigration Devastation of natives led to church

leaders fighting abuses → increased African slavery

↳Sets stage for colonial system in Mexico, Peru, & Brazil

Paths of Conquest Conquests by individuals followed by civil society

(women, missionaries, administrators) Two pronged conquest:

Mexico Peru

↳ Conquest then branched out, facing stiff resistance

Men of humble origins conquered for greed & desire to convert Greed always spurred new conquest Created new nobility w/ rights over new peasantry

The Conquerors

Conquest & Morality

Violence of conquest raises questions of morality Some argue natives are not fully human Others argue natives should be treated

fairly & converted peacefully

↳Results are mixed – only worst abuses moderated

Destruction & Transformation Disease created demographic

catastrophe Seizure of native communal lands

Exploitation of the Indians

Outright enslavement was prohibited, but encomiendas acted as sources of labor

Colonists increasingly sought land as a source of wealth & governments extract labor Mita

Spanish & natives selectively accept aspects of each others culture

Colonial Econ & Gov

Although Spanish America was an Ag society, mining (silver) was essential

Silver Heart of an Empire

Major discoveries made in Zacatecas, Mexico & Potosí, Peru

Mining labor evolves: from native slaves to encomienda workers to mita to wage wokers

One-fifth of all silver belongs to royal gov Stimulates Ag & economy

Haciendas & Villages Hacienda = rural estate owned by Spanish

families & worked by natives → base of local aristocracy Source of competition w/ native Ag villages

America becomes self-sufficient except for luxuries

American silver key to Spanish commerce Heavily regulated, Fleet system developed

Spanish silver envied, but much goes to wars, Chinese luxuries, & debts

Industry & Commerce

Ruling an Empire: State

1 of 2

King

Council of Indies

Viceroy of New Spain

Viceroy of Peru

Audiencias

Local Bureaucrats

Ruling an Empire: Church

Acted as a ruling force in colonies

Church & missionaries established ideological & intellectual framework

2 of 2

Brazil: First Plantation Colony

1st only thought to be useful for its timber (land of trade outposts & merchants)

Later nobles & capitaincies w/ feudal & econ power

Sugar & Slavery Plantation colony & model for sugar-

based Caribbean (now a backwaters)

Social hierarchy reflected plantation slavery

Bureaucracy mirrored Spanish America (although w/ strong connection to crown)

Intellectually dependent on Portugal

Brazil’s Age of Gold

Establishment of plantation colonies in Caribbean hurts Brazil & leads to economically diverse set of colonies

Discovery of gold, rejuvenates Brazil as economy & colony

Discovery of gold = mixed blessing Positively (growth of cultural life) Negatively (continued lack of industry in

Portugal)

Multiracial Societies Multiple ethnicities in Americas (all under

varying conditions) created relations of power

Sociedad de Castas Society of races

Europeans: Peninsulares, Creoles Castas: mestizos, mulattos (↑ in # &

importance) Africans & Indians

Traditional distinctions b/t gender, age, class persist

Question Slide

Considering the relative decline of serfdom in Western Europe, what forces do you think led creation of coerced labor systems in colonies around the world?

18th Century Reforms Expansion of economy & population in Europe

led to progressive ideas in colonies

Shifting Balance Spain weakened by debt & war began losing

American monopoly Death of Charles II & War of Spanish

Succession led to legal concessions to French & English

Bourbon Reforms Reforms in Spain & Americas centered on restoring gov & econ

efficiency Disrupted patterns of influence Economically developed new areas & adopted more liberal trade policies

Pombal & Brazil Reforms in Portugal & Brazil mirror Spanish

efforts Advocated mercantilism Monopoly companies & slaves used to expand Ag,

introduce crops, revitalize plantations

Reforms, Reactions, & Revolts

Experienced rapid population growth

Social unrest increased as a result of new activist gov & growing economic prosperity

Success of revolts undermined by social division

Global Connections

Created European societies Basis for power & econ of Europe But more complex b/c of econ,

environments, indigenous cultures New empires

Compare to Russia Importance of coerced labor &

gunpowder in early modern period

Question Slide

What are the similarities and differences between the Iberian empires and Russian empire?