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 both judicial and administrative roles, they ensured royal law enforcement and acted as checks on viceroys. They played a crucial role in maintaining centralized control over distant territories.

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. This victory was celebrated in Europe as a triumph for Christianity.

Black Legend: A narrative that depicted the Spanish Empire as uniquely brutal and oppressive towards Indigenous peoples, primarily spread by rival European nations. It exaggerated真实 abuses by Spanish colonists, influencing historical perspectives on Spain.

Camino Real: A network of main roads in the Spanish Empire that linked major inland regions with coastal ports, facilitating trade and communication. It played a vital role in imperial administration and the movement of resources.

Casta system: A hierarchical social classification in Spanish America based on race and birthplace, privileging peninsulares over creoles and various mixed-race groups. It strongly influenced social mobility and access to power.

Charles V (Carlos I): King of Spain and Holy Roman Emperor, ruling a vast empire, he faced challenges including internal revolts and religious conflicts. His reign saw the establishment of colonial administration and reforms concerning Indigenous treatment.

Council of the Indies: Established in 1524, this governing body advised on colonial policy, drafted laws, and oversaw administration and justice in Spanish America, helping maintain control from afar despite communication barriers.

Encomienda system: A system granting settlers the right to extract labor and tribute from Indigenous communities, often leading to their exploitation. Despite intentions of protection, it resulted in abuses akin to forced labor.

Hacienda system: A structure of large estates in Spanish America that relied on peasant labor, often linked with debt peonage. Unlike the encomienda, haciendas persisted and were self-sufficient.

Holy Roman Empire: A complex political entity in Central Europe ruled by Charles V, characterized by significant autonomy among its territories. It faced fragmentation and religious conflict during his reign.

Iberian Union: The 1580 dynastic union of Portugal and Spain under Philip II, leading to greater Spanish influence but also significant challenges due to overextension and resistance from Portuguese elites. The union dissolved in 1640.

Mission system: Religious settlements established by missionaries to convert Indigenous populations and assimilate them into colonial society, often disrupting their traditional cultures. This system spanned across Latin America, including the American Southwest.

New Laws of 1543: Royal decrees aimed at reforming colonial governance and improving Indigenous treatment, influenced by reformists like Bartolomé de las Casas, though enforcement was weak and met with resistance from colonists.

Repartimiento system: A labor system requiring Indigenous communities to provide workers for Spanish projects, designed to be temporary but often resulting in coercion and exploitative conditions, especially in mining.

Revolt of the Comuneros: A major Castilian uprising against Carlos I fueled by opposition to foreign governance and high taxes, demanding more political participation. The revolt was ultimately quashed, but it led to some reforms in Castile.

Vicoralities: Large administrative divisions in the Spanish Empire governed by viceroys, critical for managing vast territories but highlighting the limitations of centralized authority due to geographic distances.

Philip II: King of Spain known for centralizing royal authority and expanding the empire, his rule marked both the height of Spanish power and the onset of challenges like military overextension and fiscal strain.

Potosi: A major silver mining city in Bolivia that became immensely wealthy and vital to the Spanish economy during the 16th century, relying on Indigenous labor through coercive systems.

Siglo de Oro: The Spanish Golden Age encompassing a flourishing in arts and literature during the 16th and 17th centuries, funded by American silver, reflecting themes of Catholicism and Spain's global power, while foreshadowing economic difficulties.

Spanish Armada: A failed naval fleet sent by Philip II to invade England in 1588, marking a significant decline in Spanish naval dominance due to various strategic and logistical issues.

Treaty of Tordesillas: An agreement dividing newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal, legitimizing Spanish expansion and showcasing the interplay of religion and diplomacy in empire-building.

Valladolid Debate: A formal discussion in the 1550s between Las Casas and Sepúlveda regarding Indigenous rights, reflecting the moral complexities of empire and influencing future Spanish laws regarding Indigenous treatment.