Palmer #11, Question 3

Palmer #11, Question 3

Will Stewart

“How would you assess the nature of the Spanish empire in America? What negative and positive aspects would you mention?"

Thesis: The true nature of the Spanish empire in America is murky, as it had both positive and negative impacts on America and the world as a whole.

I. Background

a. Spanish empire based in South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean

b. Turned national energy of reconquista outwards, used it in America

i. Set up Inquisition in America

c. Spain regarded empire as means of production for mother country

II. Negative Aspects

a. Civilizations and cultures destroyed

i. Inca, Aztec, etc.

b. Indians put into servitude, essentially slaves for Spanish

c. Spread diseases that destroyed entire Indian populations

d. Exploited the vast natural resources of the land

III. Positive Aspects

a. Indians were actually better off than they were under tribal leaders

i. They weren’t free then either, they were now spared from tribal war, and the Inquisition was practically humane compared to the practices of the Aztecs and Incas.

b. 5 European style universities were set up in America by 1636

c. Spanish set up trade routes for the silver they mined

i. Manila Route- silver went from Mexico to Manila, silver was traded for Chinese goods, these transported back to Mexico, across to the Atlantic, then back to Spain

ii. First global network for commercial exchange

iii. Sustained Asian-American-European trading system