1. Spanish and Portuguese Rule in the Americas

2. Politics: Spain’s Colonies  1500’s Spain had two viceroyalties (regions in the Americas) 1) New Spain, capital in Mexico City 2) Peru, capital in Lima  1700’s Spain set up two more viceroyalties 3) New Granada, capital in Bogotá 4) Rio de la Plata, capital in Buenos Aires  Viceroy – a person who rules in place of the king; appointed by the king

3. Politics: Ruling Spain’s colonies  The Council of the Indies was a council in Spain that made laws for the colonies. This council also regulated the Church, courts, and trade.  Cabildos were town councils made up of wealthy landowners (set up by Spain)

4. Politics: Portugal’s Colony: Brazil  At first Portugal had 15 donatarios, nobles appointed by the King, to rule Brazil’s 15 regions called captaincies.  Later these turned into provinces and then states.

5. Economy: Encomienda System The King of Spain gave conquistadors land and the right to demand taxes and labor from the people living on the land. The conquistador was supposed to pay the natives for work, look after their health, and teach them about Christianity. However, many settlers forced the natives to do hard labor for little or no compensation. Many Indians died under this system.

6. Economy: Mercantilism  Colonies could trade only with the mother country.  Colonies had two roles under mercantilism 1)supply the mother country with raw materials 2) be a market for manufactured goods from the mother country.  This made the colonies dependent of the mother country and kept them from fully developing their own economy.

7. Economy: Products sent to Spain  Colonies provided Spain with gold and silver, agricultural products such as sugar cane, coffee or fruit such as bananas, and ranch products such as meat, leather or wool.

8. Economy: Products sent to Portugal  The main products that Brazil provided Portugal were sugar, cotton, and coffee. Gold and diamonds were discovered in the late 1600’s and were also sent to Portugal.

9. Economy: Slavery  Both Spain and Portugal began importing slaves from Africa to the colonies.  Over 3 million African slaves were brought to Brazil.  Spain mostly relied on Natives as slaves but did bring some Africans to the Americas as well.

10. Society: A New Class System

11. Culture: Religion  Spanish and Portuguese spread Christianity (Catholicism) in Latin America.  Natives were converted to the new religion and their temples, statues, etc were destroyed, though some missionaries did try to protect the natives.  But some native customs were absorbed into Catholicism.  The Catholic Church was very powerful and it controlled a great deal of land and money.