Spanish & portuguese colonies in the americas

Spanish & portuguese colonies in the americas Made by: Aqsa Zia

Spain new Empire • Several Spanish settlers and the missionaries were followed by the conquistadors for the new empire. • They buildup colonies, which claimed the land and the people for the king and the church • Afterward, a new culture was emerged by the Spanish which throwback the Europeans , Native Americans and the African traditions.

Ruling the Spanish Empires • In between 1500s Spain claimed a vast empire from California to South America. • The king setup some laws for the colonies, to maintain strict rules over the empire. • The king appointed viceroys for each province which were ruling in his name.

Introducing European culture • Spreading Christianity was as important for the Spanish people as they were gaining lands. • The leaders of many Church helped the Spanish settlers to regulate their activities. • They introduced European culture, their clothes, Spanish language and new crafts as well.

Spanish Trading • The most valuable source which the spanish were trading to make the empire profitable was gold and silver. • The only raw material which could be export by the colonists was to Spain and the colonists could only buy the Spanish manufactured food. • Afterwards sugar was introduced in the west indies and some of the other countries, which was said to be the most profitable source.

Forced Labor • The Spanish gave the conquistadors the rite to demand labor from the Native Americans, from the particular area. • The conquistadors forced the Native Americans to work, and those who resisted were hunted down or killed. • Many Native Americans were suffered from different disease and the cruel treatment by the Spanish decline the population of the Native Americans.

Spanish priest speak out • Some of the priest came a step forward and condemned the cruel behavior encomeinda system. • In the reports in Spain, Las Casas explained the horror that the Spanish rule had brought to the Native Americans. • Due to the urged by Las Casas the Span passed some new laws of the indies in 1542. • After that the Natives were forced to become a peon, workers forced to labor for the landlord, in order to pay off the dept.

African slaves • As there was the shortage of slaves, Las Casas prodded the colonists to bring workers from Africa. • They believed that the Africans had good skills in mining, farming and in metal working. • Later on the Spanish repantant about the advice of Las Casas, and thus the Africans were trade in 1530s. • The Africans were forced to work in field hands, miners and servants in the houses. • While some became skilled artists and artisans.

Culture blending • From the fact that the Spanish were the most dominant people in the America, still there was a change in the traditions. • Settlers learned Native American styles, they ate their food, and started travelling in Indian style canoes. • The Europeans taught their religion to the Native Americans, and also introduced many animals like horse. • In this way the Africans present their culture as well, their cooking methods, differents ways of farming, their drama’s, dances and many other things.

Settling Brazil • The Tupian Indians ,the native Americans who lived in Brazil, were dying because of disease. • Brazil had no wealth from Gold or Silver, unlike the Spain's American Colonies so the early settlers exported Brazil wood, and the Portuguese named the colony after this wood. • They produced valuable dyes, raised cattle, and did plantation agriculture, and like the Spanish , the Native’s were forced to clear the plantations. • A new culture emerged in Brazil, which was the blend of Native Americans, European and the some Africans.

Challenging Portugal and Spain • In 1500’s Spain became the most powerful country of the Europe, due to the wealth of Americans, and Portugal was just behind. • The English were jealous , so they started trade between the Spain and Portuguese in an illegal way. • In the Caribbean, the Dutch, English , and French, robbed the treasure ships of America. • Other European explorers explored the coasts of America, in search of gold, treasure, as well passage to the Asia

Spanish & portuguese colonies in the americas