What are the colonies of Spain? Description, history and interesting facts

Until the nineteenth century, the colonies of Spain occupied a considerable part of the land. The Spanish Empire was one of the most powerful feudal powers of the past. Active colonization and geographical discoveries significantly influenced the development of human history. Conquest affected the cultural, linguistic and religious development of many peoples.

Preconditions of colonization

Up to the fourteenth century, Spain was fighting for its independence. From the south and east, their land was constantly visited by the Moors and Saracens. Long centuries of struggle eventually ended with the final expulsion of the Arabs from the continent. But after the victory, many problems immediately opened. Leading the wars for several centuries, Spain created several knightly orders, and the soldiers were much more than in any country in Europe. The rulers of the Habsburg dynasty understood that sooner or later this would lead to a social riot. The greatest danger, on their representation, were the landless younger sons of knights - hidalgo.

First, to direct their thirst for a better life in the right direction of the government, the crusade begins on the East. However, the Saracens exert a fierce resistance, which causes the Crusaders to retreat. The colonies of Spain in Africa were small and practically did not bring any profit. At that time, various goods from India were in great demand. In the view of Europeans, this continent was not only in the east, but also in the south. Therefore, to find the shortest path to it, expeditions were regularly equipped.

Geographical Discoveries

The first colonies of Spain appeared after the discovery by Christopher Columbus of the New World - America. At the end of the summer of 1492, there were three ships under Spanish flags. They were equipped from the treasury of several European countries. In the middle of the fall of the same year, Columbus landed in the Bahamas. Four months later, the island of Haiti was opened . In search of gold, the Spaniards sometimes went to the land and advanced deep into the jungle. On their way they met the resistance of local tribes. However, the level of their civilizability lagged behind the European for several centuries. Therefore, the conquistadors, clad in steel armor, it was not difficult to conquer the natives.

Eight years later, another expedition sailed, already consisting of a one and a half thousand crew with provisions. They surveyed a significant part of the coast of South America. New islands were discovered. After that, an agreement was concluded between Portugal and Spain, according to which new lands were equally divided between the two empires.

South America

Initially, the Spaniards began to explore the west coast of America. This is the territory of modern Brazil, Chile, Peru and other countries. In the new lands were established the Spanish order. Administrations were established in large settlements. Then the armed detachments were sent to conquer new lands. Then immigrants from Europe arrived. The local population, in particular Bolivia, was taxed.

Most of all the Spaniards were interested in goods for export. This is gold, silver and various spices. If it was not always possible to reach gold before gold, the conquistadors found silver in abundance. The loaded ships came to the port on a monthly basis. A huge amount of imports eventually led to the decline of the whole empire. Inflation began, which led to poverty. The latter gave birth to several uprisings.

North America

The colony of Spain had some sovereignty. They submitted to Valladolid on federal rights. In the occupied lands, Spanish culture and language developed. In the colony of the Rio de La Plata, the problems were brought by local Indians. They hid in the jungle and occasionally raided. Therefore, the government of the Viceroyalty had to hire soldiers from neighboring colonies to fight the guerrillas, which, in addition, also organized looting and pogroms.

For four decades the Spanish colonists managed to open more than twenty colonies in the territory of the New World. Over time, they merged into big vice-kingdoms. In the north was the largest colony - New Spain, which was discovered by Hernan Cortes - a legendary personality, which is often associated with the mythical city of Eldorado.

Prior to the active intervention of Great Britain, the conquistadors created a colony of Spain along the entire coast of South and North America. List of modern countries that used to be colonies of Spain:

• Mexico.
• Cuba.
• Honduras.
• Ecuador.
• Peru.
• Chile.
• Colombia.
• Bolivia.
• Guatemala.
• Nicaragua.
• Part of Brazil, Argentina and the United States.

Administrative device

The countries-former colonies of Spain in this territory are the USA (southern states) and Mexico. In contrast to the colonies on the southern mainland, here the conquistadors met a more developed civilization. Once upon a time, Aztec and Maya lived on these lands. They left behind a huge architectural heritage. The expeditionary detachments of Cortez met a very organized resistance to colonization. In response, the Spaniards acted extremely cruelly towards the indigenous population. As a result, its numbers were rapidly declining.

After the creation of New Spain, the conquistadors moved to the West and founded Louisiana, East and West Florida. Some of these lands were under the control of the metropolis until the nineteenth century. But as a result of the war with the United States of America, they lost everything. Mexico defended its freedom a few years before.

Order in the occupied territories

The power in the colonies was concentrated in the hands of the viceroy. He, in turn, submitted personally to the Spanish monarch. The Vice-Kingdom was divided into several regions (if it was large enough). Each region had its own administration and ecclesiastical church. Therefore, many former colonies of Spain still profess Catholicism. Another branch of power was the military. Most often the backbone of the garrison was knights-mercenaries, who after some time returned to Europe.

To occupy high posts in the viceroyalty could only come from the metropolis. They were hereditary nobles and rich knights. Descendants of the Spaniards, who were born in America, according to the law, owned the same rights as the representatives of the mother country. However, in practice they were often oppressed, and they could not occupy any high position.

Relationship with the local population

The local population was made up of representatives of various Indian tribes. Initially, they were often subjected to murders and robberies. However, later the colonial administrations decided to change their attitude towards the aborigines. Instead of looting, it was decided to exploit the Indian population. Formally they were not slaves. However, they were subjected to some oppression and were subject to high taxes. And if they did not pay them, they became debtors to the Crown, which was not much different from slavery.

The colonies of Spain adopted the culture of the metropolis. This acute conflict is not caused. Local people are very willing to adopt the traditions of Europeans. In a fairly short period of time, the aborigines learned the language. Assimilation was also facilitated by the arrival of lone hidalgo knights. They settled in the Viceroyalty and married Aboriginal women. What is the colony of Spain, is best seen in the example of Louisiana. After all, in this Viceroyalty in a few decades, feudal relations developed between the local population and the administration.

Loss of colonies

The crisis in Europe reached its peak by the eighteenth century. Spain started a war with France. Inflation and civil strife led to the demise of the empire. Colonies took advantage of this and started the liberation wars. And in some cases, the driving force was not the local population, but the descendants of the former colonists, many of whom were assimilated. Many historians are wondering whether Spain was a colony of its viceroyalty. That is, a hostage to profits from distant lands. Likely. And soon she tried to keep influence in American lands at any cost. After all, after their rejection, Spain itself almost collapsed.