Chapter 3: The Spanish and Portuguese Empires (16th-17th Century)

The Golden Age

A term referring to the 17th century, when Spain and Portugal were central to the world's economy.

Why were the Spanish able to overthrow the Aztec Empire?

• Ideology

• Technology

• Politics & Alliances

• Epidemics

Ideology of Conquest

The mindset of superiority that allowed the Spanish to justify their conquests.

Reconquista

A centuries-long effort to reclaim territory in the Iberian Peninsula from Muslim rule.

St. James the Moor-Killer

A symbolic figure representing Spanish military dominance in the conquest.

Spanish Technology

• Spanish had Metal weapons/ most of Mesoamerican made of stone

• Aztecs focused on capturing the enemies alive unprepared for Spanish goal of total destruction

• gunpowder terrified Aztecs

• pyschological impact of horses, steel weapons, and gunpowder

Political & Alliances

• formed alliances with Tlaxcalans and surrounded tenochtitlán

• Cortez recruited soldiers from Spain and Cuba increased army from 400-800 men

• Spanish strategy in war: divide indigenous groups and make them fight each other

Epidemics

Widespread occurrences of diseases like smallpox devastated indigenous populations. Killed political and spiritual leaders and the Spanish were immune to the diseases so they interpreted it as divine favor. Did not fully recover until the 1800s

The Incan Empire

A vast empire in South America, known for its advanced agricultural techniques, architecture, and road systems, which fell to Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Pizarro. Stretch from Colombia to the Andes

Vertical Agriculture

A method developed by the Incas for growing crops at various altitudes.Grew Quinoa, potatoes, and tomatoes

Incan Rulers Divinity

Rulers are divine and continue to rule even after death so the new ruler has to find new land to conquer. This leads to internal conflicts upon Inca rulers

Civil War in Inca

Civil War broke out between Huascar and Atahualpa

smallpox reached empire before spanish did killing ruling Inca

Atahualpa won faced the spanish and was captured after making an alliance with Francicso Pizarro. Captured in Cajamarca

Silver Mines

silver mines discoverd in Cerro de Potosí

silver doubled the worlds supply within a century

Spain taxes were in silver much of it went to China through Eurpoean trade networks

Hegemony

A form of dominance that involves some level of consent from the conquered people.

Spanish wanted to labor and tax revenue indigenous societies

Viceroyalty

A province governed by a viceroy, representing the Spanish crown.

• Viceroyalties governed the empire:

  • New Spain (Mexico, Central America, parts of the U.S.)

  • Peru (South America)

  • Two more viceroyalties were added in the 18th century.

Portuguese Colonization of Brazil

Brazil home to semi-sedentary groups of indigenous people economy was based off of agriculture and slavery

Economy of Brazil

• Brazilwood tree (native to the Amazon) was the first major resource, used to make red dye.

• The Fazenda system (plantation economy) developed, similar to Spanish haciendas.

• Brazil became a hub for sugar production, which was highly profitable.

• The Portuguese were early innovators in the Atlantic slave trade, sourcing enslaved people from Africa.

Plantation Economy

An agricultural system based on large-scale cultivation of cash crops, heavily reliant on slave labor.

The Columbian Exchange

The transfer of crops, animals, diseases, and people between the Old and New Worlds.

Crops in the Columbian Exchange

Tomatoes, Potatoes, Corn, Cassava and other staple foods introduced to Europe and Africa, improving diets and agriculture.

Baroque Period

A cultural era in the 17th century characterized by ornate art and architecture showcasing wealth and power.

Huge Baroque Cathedrals built

Iglesia y Monasterio de San Francisco in Quito Ecuador

Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

A prominent writer and intellectual in colonial Mexico, known for her contributions to literature and culture.

lived in of convent not allowed to leave except to go to church

sent to a rural church to take care of the ill and contracted leprosy and died

wrote controversial writings about feminist ideals and women rights

Atahualpa

The last ruling Inca emperor before the Spanish conquest, captured by Pizarro.

Tlaxcalans

An indigenous group that formed an alliance with the Spanish against the Aztecs.

Cerro de Potosí

A significant silver mine discovered by the Spanish that greatly contributed to the global economy.

Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs

The overthrow of the Aztec Empire by Spanish conquistadors led by Hernán Cortés.

Deception in Warfare

A tactic used by Pizarro during the conquest of the Incas, involving trickery to gain advantage.

Cultural Identity

The shared beliefs and values of a group, illustrated by figures like Sor Juana and the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Economic Globalization

The process by which economies have become integrated through trade and commerce.

Sourcing Enslaved People

The practice by the Portuguese of obtaining labor from Africa to work on plantations in Brazil.

Smallpox and Indigenous Populations

A disease that caused up to 90% fatalities among indigenous people during the Spanish conquest.

Machu Picchu

An example of advanced Inca stone-carving techniques and architecture.

Politics of the Spanish Empire

• Charles I (1516-1556): First Habsburg ruler of Spain, also ruled the Holy Roman Empire.

• Philip II (1556-1598): Married a Portuguese princess, expanding Spanish control.

• Philip III (1598-1621): Strengthened ties with the Holy Roman Empire.

• Philip IV (1621-1665): Oversaw the peak of Spanish power and the height of Baroque art.

• By Philip IV’s reign, France began competing with Spain for dominance in Europe.

The royal fifth

a 20 percent tax that the Spanish Crown placed on mining.

Bourbon and Pombaline reforms

refers to a series of administrative changes and economic policies implemented in the 18th century aimed at modernizing and strengthening the Spanish and Portuguese empires.

Bourbon Reform examples

included the reduction of colonial autonomy, the establishment of new taxes, and the reorganization of colonial administration.

Pombaline Reform Examples

included the centralization of power, the promotion of agriculture and trade, and the reduction of the Jesuit influence in Portuguese colonies.