Spanish Colonization
Definition
The process by which Spain established colonies and imposed its control over territories in the Americas from the late 15th to early 19th centuries.
Analogy
Think of Spanish colonization like a game of Monopoly. Spain, as one player, was trying to claim as many properties (in this case, lands) as possible to increase their wealth and power.
Related terms
Conquistadors: Spanish explorers and warriors who led military expeditions in the Americas and captured land for Spain.
Encomienda System: A labor system where the Spanish crown granted colonists authority over a specified number of natives; it was used to regulate Native American labor and behavior during the colonization period.
Columbian Exchange: The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World following Columbus's voyages.
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