1. The Rise and Decline of the Spanish Empire
Period 4: 1450-1750

2. King Charles V
From 1519 to
1556
•Ruling two empires
involved Charles in
constant warfare.
•As a devout Catholic,
he fought to suppress
Protestantism in
•Ruling two empires
involved Charles in
constant warfare.
•As a devout Catholic,
he fought to suppress
Protestantism in
Germany.
Germany.
•He faced military
threats from the
French, from German
Protestant princes, and
from the Ottoman
•He faced military
threats from the
French, from German
Protestant princes, and
from the Ottoman
Empire under
Suleiman.
Empire under
Suleiman.

3. The Empire of Charles V (Hapsburgs)
•In 1556, an exhausted Charles gave up his titles and divided his empire. His
brother Ferdinand became Holy Roman Emperor, and his son Philip ruled Spain,
•In 1556, an exhausted Charles gave up his titles and divided his empire. His
brother Ferdinand became Holy Roman Emperor, and his son Philip ruled Spain,
the Netherlands, and the vast Spanish overseas empire.
the Netherlands, and the vast Spanish overseas empire.

4. •Charles V provided five ships to Ferdinand Magellan, the first to
•Charles V provided five ships to Ferdinand Magellan, the first to
circumnavigate around the world.
circumnavigate around the world.
•New Spain was considerably extended by conquistadors like Hernán Cortés
•New Spain was considerably extended by conquistadors like Hernán Cortés
and Francisco Pizarro.
and Francisco Pizarro.

5. Aztec and
Inca location
in
Mesoamerica

6. Reasons for Spanish
Conquest over the
Aztecs
A. Diseases, smallpox, measles,
influenza
B. Alliances with Aztec
enemies, Tlaxcalans –
helped by translator Dona
Marina (Malinche)
C. Spanish technology and
animals (Guns, canons,
horses, dogs)
D. Aztecs initially thought
Cortez was God
Quetzalcoatl
E. Spanish Method of warfare
– Aztecs fought to capture
enemy, Spanish killed the
enemy
“We have pounded our hands in despair against the
adobe walls, for our inheritance, our city, is lost and
dead.” - Aztec Warrior

7. SOCIAL HIERARCHY
P
C
M
Z, I & A
Creoles:
People of pure
European blood
But born in the
New World
Mestizos:
Indian +
European
blood
Mulattos:
African +
European blood
Zambos, Indians and Africans
CAUSES
M
Film Clip
Peninsulares:
Spanish born
in Spain

8. Colonization of the Americas
Latin American Society Both North American Society
Spain conquered major
centralized Empires
(Aztec, Inca)
Mostly settled by men (85%)
Spanish/Portuguese men had
relations with Native/African –
miscegenation
Led to Mestizos – increased
population
Lived in cities – European
style - distinct communities
– mixed marriages
Encountered tribal groups
– war or trade
Borrowed cultural elements
from Natives and Africans –
clothing, plants, drums, flags,
Castas system develops
Developed societies
based on race
Used slavery
food, etc.
Roman Catholic – converted
natives – could be saved
Women more numerous – mostly
married within own group
French fur trading involved with
native women – Mestis – helped
build alliances
English looked down at natives and
Africans
Lived in small farming villages -
developed racism and strict boundaries
Did not acknowledge mixed races
– considered them black
Protestant – others could
not be saved

9. Spanish Empire of King Philip II
Catholic Church dominates
•Widespread conversion of the
Catholic Church dominates
•Widespread conversion of the
Indians by Jesuits
Indians by Jesuits
•Constructed baroque cathedrals
•Religious schools and universities
•Constructed baroque cathedrals
•Religious schools and universities
•During his 42 years reign, Philip II expanded Spanish
influence, strengthened the Catholic Church and claimed
•During his 42 years reign, Philip II expanded Spanish
influence, strengthened the Catholic Church and claimed
•He conducted the Inquisition to eliminate Protestants,
New Spain controlled by bureaucracy
•Council of Indies
•Two Viceroyalties (Mexico City & Lima)
•Ten Audiencias - Make and enforce Spanish law
•Local magistrates applied the law, collected taxes,
and assigned work required of Indian communities
absolute power.
absolute power.
•He conducted the Inquisition to eliminate Protestants,
Jews and Muslims.
Jews and Muslims.
Ruled from
1556-1598

10. Spain’s Tributary Empire
A. Spanish Conquistadors took over existing tributary networks
B. Like Indian Ocean, Spanish began to tap into vast commercial
systems and exploit the existing indigenous empires
C. Unlike Indian Ocean, the New World was not restricted to
commercial outposts. It involved the control of large amounts
A. Spanish Conquistadors took over existing tributary networks
B. Like Indian Ocean, Spanish began to tap into vast commercial
systems and exploit the existing indigenous empires
C. Unlike Indian Ocean, the New World was not restricted to
commercial outposts. It involved the control of large amounts

11. Spanish Control of New Territory
1. Provinces were ruled by a
1. Provinces were ruled by a
viceroy, or royal governor,
a representative of the king.
viceroy, or royal governor,
a representative of the king.
2. Plantations called haciendas,
2. Plantations called haciendas,
grew sugar cane to make
sugar, molasses, rum.
Needed workers to make
plantations profitable.
grew sugar cane to make
sugar, molasses, rum.
Needed workers to make
plantations profitable.
3. Encomienda system – King
3. Encomienda system – King
granted conquistadors land
to settle, including the right
to use Native Americans as
laborers on it.
granted conquistadors land
to settle, including the right
to use Native Americans as
laborers on it.
Eventually, the King prevented encomiendas from being hereditary.
Eventually, the King prevented encomiendas from being hereditary.
Once an encomendero died, his land reverted to the crown.
Once an encomendero died, his land reverted to the crown.

12. Bartolome de las Casas – Priest
who spoke out against the evils of
Bartolome de las Casas – Priest
who spoke out against the evils of
the encomienda system.
the encomienda system.
Bartolome de las Casas
To fill labor shortage, Las Casas urged
colonists to get workers from Africa.
They would be immune to disease and
have useful farming skills. Led to the
To fill labor shortage, Las Casas urged
colonists to get workers from Africa.
They would be immune to disease and
have useful farming skills. Led to the
African Slave Trade in 1502.
African Slave Trade in 1502.

13. Mercantilism - Government (Monarch) stresses the creation of a
Mercantilism - Government (Monarch) stresses the creation of a
favorable balance of trade for their nation.
favorable balance of trade for their nation.
A) Promote internal economy
1. Limit imports - keep profits from enemy or rival states
2. Set Tariffs on imported goods
3. Encouraged and funded merchant fleets and trading companies
A) Promote internal economy
1. Limit imports - keep profits from enemy or rival states
2. Set Tariffs on imported goods
3. Encouraged and funded merchant fleets and trading companies

14. Colonialism and Mercantilism
Colony
Mother
Country
Resources
Profits
Manufactured
goods
B) Need for Colonies
1. Provided raw materials and labor source
2. Encouraged industry at home - manufactured goods
3. Colonies used as a guaranteed new market
B) Need for Colonies
1. Provided raw materials and labor source
2. Encouraged industry at home - manufactured goods
3. Colonies used as a guaranteed new market

15. What were the
major products
exported from
the Americas
by the
Spanish?
How is this an
example of
mercantilism?

16. How did the Spanish discovery of Silver in
Americas impact the world?
“Global trade emerged when all important populated
“Global trade emerged when all important populated
continents began to exchange products continuously. It is true
that there was an important intercontinental trade before
1571, but there was no direct link between America and Asia,
so the world market was not fully coherent or complete. The
singular product most responsible for the birth of world trade
continents began to exchange products continuously. It is true
that there was an important intercontinental trade before
1571, but there was no direct link between America and Asia,
so the world market was not fully coherent or complete. The
singular product most responsible for the birth of world trade
was… Silver.”
was… Silver.”
- Dennis O. Flynn, Born with a Silver Spoon
- Dennis O. Flynn, Born with a Silver Spoon
How do you think silver became the
first global product?

17. The Silver Trade
A. Discovery of Silver in the Americas made Spain powerful
B. Mita system developed – forced labor in gold, silver,
mercury mines.
C. Spain used silver to pay long term debts
D. Purchased manufactured goods and items from China
A. Discovery of Silver in the Americas made Spain powerful
B. Mita system developed – forced labor in gold, silver,
mercury mines.
C. Spain used silver to pay long term debts
D. Purchased manufactured goods and items from China
and Far East
and Far East
SSiillvveerr mmiinnee iinn PPoottoossii

18. E. Spent money funding military, navy, and European wars. Mighty
Spanish Armada was able to rule the seas and dominate trade.
“The Spanish government used its ‘Super Profits’ - derived from control of silver
“The Spanish government used its ‘Super Profits’ - derived from control of silver
production - to launch a deadly, multi-front war against the emerging capitalistic states to
the north (England and the Netherlands). The northern powers nearly went bankrupt
defending themselves against Iberia’s religion-inspired military fanaticism.”
production - to launch a deadly, multi-front war against the emerging capitalistic states to
the north (England and the Netherlands). The northern powers nearly went bankrupt
defending themselves against Iberia’s religion-inspired military fanaticism.”
- Dennis O. Flynn
- Dennis O. Flynn

19. Mining in Potosi
A. Potosi is a major mining city in modern day Peru.
B. In Potosí, Spanish administrators initially recruited laborers by adapting the
Inca system of draft labor to their own needs.
C. Workers often died of disease and overwork. Some Indians rebelled.
A. Potosi is a major mining city in modern day Peru.
B. In Potosí, Spanish administrators initially recruited laborers by adapting the
Inca system of draft labor to their own needs.
C. Workers often died of disease and overwork. Some Indians rebelled.

20. Silver Trade Impacts the World
Where does most of the Silver seem to come from, and
where does it end up?

21. Silver Trade Impacts the World
A. The “Silverization” of China in 1430s
A. The “Silverization” of China in 1430s
led to the mass import of Silver world
wide. China becomes “Silver Sink”
led to the mass import of Silver world
wide. China becomes “Silver Sink”
B. Market Value of silver was twice as
B. Market Value of silver was twice as
high in China as in Spain. Europeans
now have something to offer China for
silks, porcelain and spices.
high in China as in Spain. Europeans
now have something to offer China for
silks, porcelain and spices.
C. High overvalued demand and low
C. High overvalued demand and low
costing supply resulted in biggest
mining boom in human history.
costing supply resulted in biggest
mining boom in human history.
D. Japan produced 30% of world’s silver.
D. Japan produced 30% of world’s silver.
Silver profits helped Tokugawa defeat
rivals and consolidate power.
Silver profits helped Tokugawa defeat
rivals and consolidate power.

22. Spain’s Golden Century
• The Hapsburgs were patrons of the arts.
• Among the most famous painters of the
period was El Greco. His most famous work
was the Burial of the Count of Orgaz.
Spain’s golden century also produced outstanding writers
like Cervantes who wrote Don Quixote (1605), the first
modern novel in Europe which makes fun of medieval
tales of Chivalry.
Spain’s golden century also produced outstanding writers
like Cervantes who wrote Don Quixote (1605), the first
modern novel in Europe which makes fun of medieval
tales of Chivalry.

23. Impact of Silver on Spain
Silver Production:
Spanish America: 325 tons a year (Official)
Silver Production:
Spanish America: 325 tons a year (Official)
325-450 tons a year (Illegal)
325-450 tons a year (Illegal)
Japanese: 200 tons a year
Japanese: 200 tons a year
• Less than 50% of silver remained in Spain
• At no point did American treasure imports make
up more than 25% of Spain’s national revenue
• Less than 50% of silver remained in Spain
• At no point did American treasure imports make
up more than 25% of Spain’s national revenue
With such large production numbers, what effect will
this have on the value of silver around the world?
With such large production numbers, what effect will
this have on the value of silver around the world?

24. SSppaanniisshh DDeecclliinnee::
“The poverty of Spain resulted from the discovery of the Indies.”
A. Too much Silver production led to inflation and loss of value.
B.Bankers lent money to Spanish crown due to promise of future silver - despite the
A. Too much Silver production led to inflation and loss of value.
B.Bankers lent money to Spanish crown due to promise of future silver - despite the
crown’s falling credit and value.
crown’s falling credit and value.
C.Spanish government occasionally went bankrupt
D. Bought most manufactured goods. Never developed manufacturing of their own
C.Spanish government occasionally went bankrupt
D. Bought most manufactured goods. Never developed manufacturing of their own

25. In the 1600s, Spanish power slowly declined. Even though it ruled a
huge colonial empire in the Americas, its strength slipped away.
E. Spent money fighting
wars with Northern
capitalistic competitors.
The British defeated the
Spanish Armada in 1588.
By the time the last
surviving ships reached
Spain, half of the original
Armada was lost and some
15,000 men had perished.
E. Spent money fighting
wars with Northern
capitalistic competitors.
The British defeated the
Spanish Armada in 1588.
By the time the last
surviving ships reached
Spain, half of the original
Armada was lost and some
15,000 men had perished.