1. Spanish & Portuguese Colonies in the Americas

2. Geography of Colonization

3. The Process of Colonization by Spain
Conquistadors Arrive in the Americas
Guns, Armor
Horses
Disease
Missionaries & Spanish Follow
Land is claimed in the name of the Spanish King
Land is claimed for the church
New Culture Emerges Over Time
Reflects European, Native American, and African traditions

4. Ruling the Spanish Empire
Council of the Indies:
Set up by King of Spain
Made laws for colonies
Viceroys:
Appointed by King of Spain
Representatives who ruled in his name
Each province had a viceroy
Lesser Officials & Audiencias:
Councils of Spanish settlers
Assisted viceroys

5. Spreading Christianity
Catholic Church & Spanish government worked to convert Native Americans
Church leaders often served as officials
Supervised Spanish settlers
Empire Expanded = Church authority expanded
Converts to Christianity = Loyal subjects to King of Spain
Spreading Christianity was as important as acquiring land
European culture was often forced upon Natives

6. The Spread of Christianity

7. What does this cartogram show us?

8. Controlling Trade Motive: make empire profitable
Silver & Gold = most valuable exports from Spanish America
Rules for Colonists:
Only export raw materials to Spain
Trade with other nations or colonies forbidden
Sugar Cane:
Very profitable
Very labor intensive
Demand for labor rises

9. The Value of Sugar Cane

10. The Encomienda System
Conquistadors granted right to demand labor or tribute from native people
Forced natives to work in brutal conditions
Resistance = death
Disease, starvation & cruel treatment = huge declines in Native American population
Used on mines & plantations

11. The “Layers of Society”
Peninsulares
Born in Spain
Highes positions in Church and Gov’t
Creoles
American born descendants of Spanish
Plantation, mine, ranch owners
Mestizos
Mixed Native American/European descent
Lower social status than those of European blood
Mulattoes
Mixed Native American/African descent
Formed lowest social class along with Native Americans

12. The Portuguese Colony in Brazil
Brazil: Claimed by Portugal in 1494
Most Natives wiped out by disease
Portuguese gov’t granted land to Portuguese nobles
Shared profits
Built towns, plantations, churches
NO Silver or Gold
Brazilwood: Main Export
Used Forced Labor to on plantations and ranches
4 million Africans sent to Brazil
Unique Culture Emerges:
European, Native American, African