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The Spanish Empire, c1528 to c1555
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Francisco Pizarro conquered the Inca Empire. Spain then built a vast empire, debated how to treat its people, and grew rich on American silver.
Pizarro and the Incas
Pizarro made contact with the Incas in 1528. Their emperor Huayna Capac died around this time, probably of smallpox, which led to a civil war between his sons Atahuallpa and Huascar.
Pizarro sailed again in 1530. At Cajamarca in 1532, with fewer than 200 men, he ambushed and captured Atahuallpa. Atahuallpa paid a huge ransom of gold and silver but was executed in 1533.
The Spanish took Cuzco. Manco Inca's siege of Cuzco (1536 to 37) failed.
Pizarro sailed again in 1530. At Cajamarca in 1532, with fewer than 200 men, he ambushed and captured Atahuallpa. Atahuallpa paid a huge ransom of gold and silver but was executed in 1533.
The Spanish took Cuzco. Manco Inca's siege of Cuzco (1536 to 37) failed.
Running the empire
Spain ruled through viceroys: New Spain (from 1535) and Peru (from 1542).
The encomienda system gave settlers the right to labour and tribute from local people, in return for protecting them and teaching Christianity. It led to great abuse.
The friar Bartolome de las Casas condemned this. The New Laws (1542) banned enslaving local people and limited encomiendas, though settlers resisted.
Huge silver deposits were found at Potosi (in modern Bolivia) in 1545, and La Paz was founded in 1548.
The encomienda system gave settlers the right to labour and tribute from local people, in return for protecting them and teaching Christianity. It led to great abuse.
The friar Bartolome de las Casas condemned this. The New Laws (1542) banned enslaving local people and limited encomiendas, though settlers resisted.
Huge silver deposits were found at Potosi (in modern Bolivia) in 1545, and La Paz was founded in 1548.
Impact on Spain
Gold and silver made Spain rich and powerful, though it also fuelled rising prices.
The Crown took a share, a royal fifth.
The House of Trade (Seville, 1503) controlled trade with the Americas, and the Council of the Indies advised the king on governing them.
The transatlantic slave trade brought enslaved Africans to the Americas. New goods such as maize, potatoes, tomatoes, chocolate and tobacco reached Europe.
The Crown took a share, a royal fifth.
The House of Trade (Seville, 1503) controlled trade with the Americas, and the Council of the Indies advised the king on governing them.
The transatlantic slave trade brought enslaved Africans to the Americas. New goods such as maize, potatoes, tomatoes, chocolate and tobacco reached Europe.
Explain the importance of the New Laws (1542) for the Spanish Empire.
- Las Casas's reports showed the abuse of local people under the encomienda system.
- The New Laws banned enslaving local people and limited encomiendas.
- Settlers resisted strongly, showing the limits of royal control far away.
Answer: They tried to protect local people, but settler resistance limited their effect.
Pizarro: Inca civil war, Cajamarca 1532, Atahuallpa captured and executed 1533, Cuzco. Viceroys, encomienda, Las Casas, New Laws 1542. Potosi silver 1545, La Paz 1548. Royal fifth, House of Trade, Council of the Indies, slave trade, new goods.
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