2. I. Ruling the Spanish Empire Spain’s empire stretched from California to South America Council of the Indies passed colony laws –appointed viceroys The Catholic Church Winning souls for Christianity was as important as gaining land Introduced European clothing, the Spanish language, and new crafts
3. I. Ruling the Spanish Empire B. The Economy Valuable resources were silver and gold Plantations required large numbers of workers and were profitable Encomiendas gave the right to demand labor or tribute from the Native Americans C. Bartolome de lasCasas He condemned the evils of the encomienda system Native Americans were forced to labor for a landlord and create debts
4. I. Ruling the Spanish Empire Bringing workers from Africa Colonists brought Africans to work in the Americas Were forced to work as field hands, miners, and servants Africans outnumbered American-born and rebelled many times.
5. II. Colonial Society and Culture Social Structure Top of the society were peninsulares and creoles Bottom of society were mestizos, mulattos, Native Americans and Africans B. Cities Spanish settlers lived in towns and cities Centers of government, commerce and culture
6. II. Colonial Society and Culture C. Education Built universities to educate young men Women had to join convents to be educated D. Cultural Blending Native American style of building, native foods, traveled in canoes Settlers taught religion, introduced animals Africans added farming methods, cooking styles, and crops
7. III. Portuguese Colony in Brazil The Ecomony Began trading Brazilwood to make dyes Cleared land for sugar plantations and cattle raising. A New Culture European dominated the upper and middle class, Natives and Africans influenced the whole.
8. IV. Challenging Spanish Power the wealth of the Americas helped make Spain the most powerful country in Europe Dutch, English and French pirates preyed on Spanish treasure ships