Paper 2 Spanish Empire (1450-1600) For Paper 2, study all your Paper 1 vocabulary cards plus the terms below

Audencias

High courts in Spanish America with judicial and administrative roles, ensuring royal law enforcement and acting as checks on viceroys.

Battle of Lepanto

A significant naval battle in 1571 where the Holy League defeated the Ottoman Empire, marking a major decline in Ottoman naval power.

Black Legend

A narrative depicting the Spanish Empire as uniquely brutal and oppressive towards Indigenous peoples, primarily spread by rival European nations.

Camino Real

A network of main roads in the Spanish Empire linking major inland regions with coastal ports, facilitating trade and communication.

Casta system

A hierarchical social classification in Spanish America based on race and birthplace, privileging peninsulares over creoles and mixed-race groups.

Charles V (Carlos I)

King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor who faced internal revolts and religious conflicts during his reign.

Council of the Indies

Governing body established in 1524 that advised on colonial policy and oversaw administration and justice in Spanish America.

Encomienda system

A system granting settlers the right to extract labor and tribute from Indigenous communities, often leading to exploitation.

Hacienda system

Structure of large estates relying on peasant labor in Spanish America, often linked with debt peonage.

Holy Roman Empire

A complex political entity in Central Europe ruled by Charles V, characterized by significant autonomy among its territories.

Iberian Union

The 1580 dynastic union of Portugal and Spain under Philip II, leading to greater Spanish influence and challenges.

Mission system

Religious settlements established by missionaries to convert Indigenous populations, often disrupting their traditional cultures.

New Laws of 1543

Royal decrees aimed at reforming colonial governance and improving Indigenous treatment, met with resistance from colonists.

Repartimiento system

Labor system requiring Indigenous communities to provide workers for Spanish projects, often resulting in exploitative conditions.

Revolt of the Comuneros

A major Castilian uprising against Carlos I fueled by opposition to foreign governance and high taxes, ultimately quashed.

Vicoralities

Large administrative divisions in the Spanish Empire governed by viceroys, critical for managing vast territories.

Philip II

King of Spain known for centralizing royal authority and expanding the empire, faced military overextension and fiscal strain.

Potosi

Major silver mining city in Bolivia vital to the Spanish economy, relying on Indigenous labor through coercive systems.

Siglo de Oro

The Spanish Golden Age, a flourishing of arts and literature during the 16th and 17th centuries funded by American silver.

Spanish Armada

A failed naval fleet sent by Philip II to invade England in 1588, marking a decline in Spanish naval dominance.

Treaty of Tordesillas

Agreement dividing newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, legitimizing Spanish expansion.

Valladolid Debate

A formal discussion in the 1550s between Las Casas and Sepúlveda regarding Indigenous rights and treatment.