WHERE WERE THE FIRST CONTACTS OF SPAIN IN AMERICA? - HISTORY - 2025

The first contacts of Spain in America were in Central and South America during the four voyages of Christopher Columbus, between 1492 and 1504. This marked the beginning of the exploration, colonization and European exploitation of the New World.

The explorers arrived at an island located in the Bahamas to which they put the name of San Salvador. They were also able to explore other islands, which they called Fernandina (now called Cuba) and Hispaniola (present-day Haiti).

Spanish explorers encountered three great civilizations in the New World: the Incas in present-day Peru, and the Mayans and Aztecs in Mexico and Central America.

The conquerors were truly amazed by what they found: immense riches in gold and silver, complex cities that rivaled or surpassed those of Europe, and remarkable artistic and scientific achievements.

Spain and Portugal faced by overseas colonies

The first conquests were made by the Spanish and the Portuguese. In the Treaty of Tordesillas of 1494, ratified by the Pope, these two kingdoms divided the entire non-European world among themselves, with a line drawn through South America.

The Spaniard Vasco Núñez de Balboa claimed as Spanish all the lands that touch the Pacific Ocean. This fact, together with the Treaty of Tordesillas, made the Spanish quickly conquer the territory.

In the mid-16th century they overthrew the Aztec and Inca empires and gained control of much of western South America, Central America, and Mexico. They also had their previous Caribbean conquests.

During this same period, Portugal conquered much of eastern South America, calling it Brazil.

As more nations became interested in colonizing the Americas, competition for territory became increasingly fierce.

The settlers often faced the threat of attacks from neighboring colonies, as well as indigenous tribes and pirates.

Spain and its relationship with indigenous peoples

Columbus landing. Dioscoro Puebla.

The indigenous population under Spanish control declined greatly as a result of European diseases to which native populations had no resistance (chickenpox, influenza, measles, and typhus), as well as cruel systems of forced labor, such as the infamous haciendas. and the mining mita.

African slaves had developed immunities to these diseases, so they were quickly brought in to replace the indigenous people of the area.

The Spanish vowed to convert their American subjects to Christianity and was quick to purge any indigenous cultural practices that would prevent this end.

Spain in Latin America

Latin America comprises the entire continent of South America, in addition to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean islands, whose inhabitants speak a Romance language.

The peoples of Latin America shared the experience of conquest and colonization by the Spanish and Portuguese from the late 15th century to the late 18th century, as well as the independence movements of Spain and Portugal in the early 19th century.

Spain in North America

It wasn't until 1749 that Spain established the first civil city in Texas, a city that eventually became Laredo. After the year 1769, Spain established permanent settlements in California.

References

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2. James Lockhart, RA (nd). Encyclopaedya Britannica. Retrieved from britannica.com
3. New World Encyclopedia. (sf). Retrieved from newworldencyclopedia.org
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5. United States History. (sf). Retrieved from us-history.com