Conquest and Colonization of the Americas: A Historical Analysis

Conquest and Colonization of the Caribbean

The initial occupation did not involve significant military effort. Following the occupation, the indigenous population declined rapidly due to new lifestyles and diseases introduced by the conquerors.

Continental Conquest in the 16th Century

The conquest of the continent occurred during the first half of the 16th century:

• Hernán Cortés: Conquered the Aztec Empire (1519).
• Francisco Pizarro: Conquered the Inca Empire (1535).

From Mexico and Peru, further expeditions expanded the empire, stretching from the current United States to South America, excluding Brazil. These territories were not considered colonies, but an extension of Castile; therefore, the Castilian administrative model was applied.

Trade, Slavery, and Legal Status

Regarding colonization, Columbus initially envisioned trade with the indigenous peoples. However, the lack of tradeable goods in the Caribbean led Columbus to propose enslavement. The Spanish Crown, following consultations with the papacy, forbade this, concluding that indigenous people possessed souls and mandating their evangelization. Consequently, laws favorable to the indigenous population were enacted, though they had little practical effect in the Americas.

The Settlement System and Feudalism

Expeditions were organized as private enterprises where the spoils—primarily gold and silver—were distributed among members, with the royal fifth (quinto real) reserved for the King. The conquerors sought to establish themselves as a landed nobility, demanding land and labor from the Crown. This created a system similar to feudalism, characterized by two primary institutions:

• Encomienda: A number of indigenous people were entrusted to a settler to work in exchange for religious instruction and protection. This system often resulted in harsh exploitation.
• Mita: A forced labor system used in mines, particularly in Zacatecas (Mexico) and Potosí (Bolivia), which led to the widespread extermination of the indigenous population.

Social Structure and Demographic Shifts

By the 17th century, indigenous people transitioned into wage laborers, while the encomenderos and miteros (Creoles) became large-scale landowners. The ruling class consisted of Creoles (descendants of Spaniards), though intense racial mixing occurred from the beginning. Due to the brutality of the labor systems, the indigenous population decreased significantly, leading to the importation of enslaved people from Africa, particularly in the West Indies.