Spanish Expansion in the Americas 1492–1600: Colonization & Administration
Discovery of America: Castile and Portugal
The discovery of America: Dateline: Castile and Portugal in the late fifteenth century; their objective was the expansion along the African Atlantic coast in order to find a route to Asia (the Indies). Both crowns in 1479 signed the Treaty of Alcáçovas, which divided areas of influence of the two countries in the Atlantic; Castilian control of the islands was the Canary Islands and the possibility of moving to southern Africa. Cristóbal Colón (Christopher Columbus) wanted to chart a course by sailing west to the West Indies, but his calculations were wrong. In 1492 the king accepted the draft. The expedition, consisting of three ships, departed from Palos (Huelva) on August 3. On October 12 he reached the island of Guanahani (San Salvador). Columbus made three more trips and explored much of the Caribbean Sea, the coasts of present-day Venezuela and Central America. The discoveries reignited tensions with Portugal over the control of new lands. In the 1494 Treaty of Tordesillas a dividing line was drawn between the zones of influence of each kingdom, leaving Brazil to Portugal, then unknown to Castile.
Exploration and Conquest of America
Exploration and Conquest of America: Vasco Yáñez Pinzón arrived on the Brazilian coast in 1500. Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1513. Juan Ponce de León occupied Florida in 1513. Juan Díaz de Solís explored the mouth of the Río de la Plata in 1516. The expedition of Magellan and Elcano completed between 1519 and 1522 the first circumnavigation of the world. Large gains were made between 1519 and 1550.
- 1st: Hernán Cortés began the conquest of Mexico (Aztecs).
- 2nd: Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro conquered the area including present-day Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia (Incas).
- 3rd: The third phase centered in the northern part of present-day Argentina and Uruguay. Continues.
The Spanish expeditions reached the Philippines, which were permanently incorporated into the Crown by López de Legazpi in 1571.
Government and Administration of America
Government and Administration of America: The new American territories were incorporated into the Crown of Castile. In 1503 the Council of the Indies was created. It depended on the Casa de Contratación (House of Trade). Its function was to regulate the trade monopoly with America. At municipal level, town councils (cabildos) were established, with municipal functions. The administration was completed by the viceroys. The viceroys, as representatives of the king, enjoyed great power. The viceroyalties were subdivided into smaller territorial units called governorates, led by governors, usually military. Judicial matters fell under the Audiencia (Royal Court).