Spanish Colonial Era: Conquest, Exploitation, and Global Impact

Spanish Conquest and Colonization of America

In the early sixteenth century, voyages to the New World intensified. Ferdinand Magellan and Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the first circumnavigation of the globe. Subsequent expeditions led to significant conquests, notably that of Hernán Cortés in Mexico.

A pivotal conquest of this period was that of Peru, where the vast Inca Empire dominated a large territory. Here, Francisco Pizarro, taking advantage of internal disputes within the Inca leadership, successfully captured the Inca ruler and subjugated their capital, Cuzco. This conquest formed the basis of the Viceroyalty of Peru, which later incorporated lands in Chile, explored by Diego de Almagro and Pedro de Valdivia.

The Spanish conquest was primarily carried out by private expeditions. These expeditions operated under a "capitulation" signed with the Crown, which outlined their objectives and the allocation of spoils. Colonization followed, attracting settlers to the new lands, particularly from regions like Andalusia, Extremadura, and the Basque Country.

A key system of exploitation imposed on the indigenous population was the Mita system. This forced a percentage of workers from each village to labor in mines, often in harsh conditions, in exchange for a meager wage.

The conquest and colonization sparked intense debate in Europe concerning two main rights:

• The right to colonize and exploit the land exclusively, to the exclusion of other nations.
• The right to subdue and evangelize the indigenous peoples.

Many European countries did not accept Castile's exclusive claims, leading them to dispatch their own expeditions, such as those of France and England to North America. Furthermore, the treatment of indigenous peoples became a major point of controversy, with figures like the monk Bartolomé de las Casas vehemently denouncing the systematic harassment and mistreatment of the native populations.

Impact of the Americas on Spain and Europe

The Age of Exploration, particularly the geographical discoveries of the 15th and 16th centuries, profoundly impacted Europe, especially Spain and Portugal. Key repercussions included:

• Geographical Repercussions: Discovery of vast uncharted lands and the definitive confirmation of the Earth's spherical shape.
• Technical and Scientific Advances: Significant progress in cartography, navigation, and shipbuilding.
• Demographic Impact: Large-scale emigration from Europe to the Americas.
• Economic Transformation: Introduction of new products, most notably vast quantities of silver and gold, which revolutionized European economies and led to price inflation.
• Cultural and Social Shifts: Changes in the Spanish mentality, fostering a sense of superiority over other nations and cultures.