Early Latin America

1. Early Latin America

2. Spaniards and Portuguese: From Reconquest to Conquest • Geographic location of Iberian peninsula meant conflict and thus a strong military tradition • Mid-15th century Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile unified kingdoms and got rid of religious and ethnic diversity in their kingdoms • 1492 Fall of Granada and economic support to Columbus

3. Iberian Society and Tradition • Traditionally, Spanish and Portuguese lived in cities- they transported this to the American Indian countryside • Use of African slaves already common on Iberian peninsula-- merchants use of slaves • Political centralization of Portugal and Castile with well-trained bureaucracy similar to China • Heavy influence of religion and church

4. The Chronology of Conquest • 1492-1570-  conquest-  administration and economy set up • 1570-1700 – consolidation • 18th century- reform and reorganization that intensified the colonial relationship

5. The Caribbean Crucible • Conquest of Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Panama • Arrival of Spanish women and African slaves represented a shift from an area of conquest to one of settlement • Agricultural Taino people provided enough surplus labor so began the encomienda system- • But native population quickly decimated and for 200 years a backwater until sugar and slaves allowed it to surge again • Disease and conquest-  Bartolome de Las Casas – struggle for justice

6. The Paths of Conquest • Conquests usually done by an individual or small group with government support • Conquest directed at Mexico and South America • Hernan Cortes -conquest of the Aztec in Tenochtitlan in 1521 (defeat of Montezuma II)- won partly because of help from Aztec enemies and also from disease, starvation, and battle • 1535- New Spain • Franciso Pizarro and the Inca-  1533 Cuzco fell.  By 1540 most of Peru under Spanish control although active resistance continued • Spanish expeditions spread out then to North America and South America:  Francisco Vazquez de Coronado in N. America and Pedro de Valdivia in S.America • By 1570 there were 192 Spanish cities

7. The Conquerors • Crown received 1/5 of treasure • Conquerors came from all walks of life and were hoping to better themselves and serve God • Technological edge (horses, firearms, steel weapons) gave them great advantage

8. Conquest and Morality • Justification of Spanish rule and destruction by Juan Gines de Sepulveda versus Las Casas • Huge population declines due to epidemics and mistreatment disrupted American societies

9. Exploitation of the Indians • No interference with aspects that served colonial goals or conflict with Spanish authority or religion.  Indian nobility in Mexico and Peru, for example, remained middlemen between the tax and labor demands. • By mid-16th century enslavement of Indians forbidden • Colonial governments increasingly extracted labor and taxes from native peoples 

10. Colonial Economies and Governments • Spanish America an agrarian society- 80% of the people worked on land • Mining was the essential activity and the basis of Spain’s rule in West Indies-  silver formed the basis of Spain’s wealth in America

11. The Silver Heart of Empire • 1545-1565 major silver discoveries and mining towns developed.  Potosi in Peru and Zacatecas in Mexico • Labor first provided by slaves and encomienda workers and then replaced by labor draft • Used European mining techniques • 1/5 profit went to crown • Mining stimulated other parts of the economy

12. Haciendas and Villages • Family-owned rural estates developed (haciendas) • Labor force came from Native Americans and mestizos • Haciendas became basis of wealth for local aristocracy

13. Industry and Commerce • Small textile workshops- produced cloth and colonies no longer depended on Europe for basic goods • Spain tightly controlled the silver trade-  Board of Trade in Seville.  Worked with merchant guild- consulado • Galleons- large heavily armed ships- carried the silver belonging to the crown • Problems-  inflation and cost of keeping up the colonies 

14. Ruling an Empire: State and Church • Sovereignty of colonies rested on papal grant- Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), which awarded lands to the east to Spain and to the west to Portugal • Spanish empire became great bureaucratic system built on a juridical core and staffed by lawyers • King ruled through the Council of the Indies • 16th century- Spain created 2 viceroyalties- one in Mexico and one in Peru. • Clergy formed another branch of state apparatus • Cultural life around religion- architecture, books, schools • Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz- author, poet, musician

15. Brazil: The First Plantation Colony • 1500 Pedro Alvares Cabral landed in Brazil, but Portugal didn’t pay attention to it until 1532 • Portuguese nobles given land to colonize and develop • Sugar plantations- key to economic success-  worked on by African slaves • 1549 Portuguese king sent an official to create a royal capital at Salvador

16. Sugar and Slavery • Brazil became the leader in sugar production in 17th century • 150,000 slaves by the end of the 17th century (1/2 of population) • Brazil’s social hierarchy reflected its plantation and slave origins • Run similarly to the Spanish colonies • Portugal was different because it had important colonies in Asia and Africa • Portuguese colonies more dependent on Portugal b/c lack of intellectual life in Brazil

17. Brazil’s Age of Gold • Slowly international competition would increase other colonies’ sugar production and push the price down • 1695 Gold strikes-  slaves provided labor-  this opened the interior of the country to settlement • 1735-1760 reached its height and made Brazil the greatest source of gold • Rio de Janeiro became capital of the colony in 1763

18. Multiracial Societies • Society of Castas • Miscegenation • Mestizos- Indian/European mix- had higher status than the Indians • Growth of mestizo and mulatto population to about 40% • Development of peninsulares and Creoles • Women in subordinate positions

19. 18th Century Reforms • Colonies gained new importance with population growth in Europe and revived strength of Spain and Portugal • Shifting Balances of Politics and Trade • Spain weakened by wars, poor rulers, economic crisis • France, Britain, Holland taking islands in the Caribbean • War of Spanish Succession and Treaty of Utrecht- recognized the Bourbon family

20. Bourbon Reforms • Charles III worked to strengthen Spain- using some French models • Colonies- new viceroyalties created in New Granada and Rio de la Plata • Spain involved in the Anglo-French wars, where it lost Florida and Havana, California was settled • Growing dissatisfaction among colonial elite

21. Pombal and Brazil • Marquis of Pombal directed Portuguese affairs from 1755-1776- authoritarian leader • Developed the interior of Brazil • Rio de Janeiro became capital

22. Reforms, Reactions, Revolt • Mid-18th century boom in population and productivity • Comunero revolt 1871, Tupac Amaru rising- increased dissatisfaction with imperial policies • Social divisions hindered effective revolt until Spain and Portugal were weakened by internal European politics