Summary of Age of Discovery and Latin American Colonization

## Introduction The **Conquest and Colonization of the Americas** was a historical process that began in the late 15th century and profoundly transformed the societies, economies, and geographies of both hemispheres. European explorers, traders, and authorities established routes, institutions, and economic systems that linked Europe, Africa, and the Americas during the colonial era. > **Definition:** Conquest is the military and political occupation of a territory by a foreign power; colonization is the establishment and exploitation of that territory by the dominant power. ## 1. Reasons for Exploration - **Economic:** search for gold, silver, spices, and new trade routes. - **Religious:** expansion of Christianity and conversion of indigenous peoples. - **Political:** increase the power and prestige of monarchies. - **Scientific and Curiosity:** discover new lands, resources, and populations. > **Definition:** Mercantilism is an economic system that aims to accumulate wealth (precious metals) and favor the mother country through the control of colonial trade. ### Practical Example - A mother country imposes taxes on the export of silver from a colony; the silver finances war and administration in the mother country. ## 2. Major Voyages and Explorers (Summary) - **Christopher Columbus (1492):** sailed for Spain and reached the Americas, initiating contact between Europe and the American continent. - **Vasco da Gama (1498):** sailed for Portugal and reached India by sailing around Africa, opening a sea trade route with Asia. - **Pedro Álvares Cabral (1500):** arrived in Brazil and claimed the territory for Portugal. - **Ferdinand Magellan (1519–1522):** his expedition completed the first circumnavigation of the world; Magellan died during the journey, but the crew completed the voyage. - **Amerigo Vespucci (1499–1502):** explored South America and realized it was not Asia, hence the name “America.” - **John Cabot (1497):** explored the coast of North America for England. Did you know that Magellan's expedition was the first to cross the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic and demonstrated the immense size of the Earth? ## 3. Political and Administrative Organization - **Viceroyalties:** large territorial divisions governed by a **viceroy** appointed by the king. - **Local Authorities:** governors and cabildos (municipal councils) that administered cities and regions. > **Definition:** A viceroy is the king's representative in a colonial territory with broad administrative and judicial powers. ### Comparative Table: Viceroyalty vs. Minor Colony | Aspect | Viceroyalty | Minor Colony (captaincy, governorship) | |---|---:|---:| | Size | Very large | Small or medium | | Authority | Viceroy | Governor | | Royal Representation | Direct | Sometimes delegated | | Example | Viceroyalty of Peru | Provincial Governorships | ## 4. Colonial Economy: Mercantilism and Extraction - Colonies supplied **raw materials** to the mother country (e.g., gold, silver, sugar, cotton). - The mother country controlled trade and kept most of the profits. > **Definition:** The encomienda was an institution through which a colonizer received the right to extract labor and taxes from indigenous communities in exchange for protection and evangelization. ### Main Forms of Extraction - **Mining:** extraction of gold and silver (e.g., Potosí). - **Plantation Agriculture:** export crops (e.g., sugar, tobacco, cotton). - **Forced Labor:** systems like the **encomienda** and the **mita**, and the use of **African slaves**. Fun fact: Many colonial cities grew around silver mines, which transformed trade routes and demographics across the continent. ## 5. Labor and Society - **Indigenous Population:** experienced a sharp decline due to diseases, exploitation, and displacement. - **African Slavery:** massive arrival of enslaved Africans to work on plantations and in mines. - **Stratified Society:** Peninsular Spaniards, Criollos, Mestizos, Indigenous people,