Portugal set it off. But, Spain hit the jackpot. Portugal may have lead the way around Africa, but Spain essentially takes the New World. Portugal was the 21st largest empire… Spain? 4th. The story of the Spanish Empire is dominated by the Americas, and that means Conquistadors. Focus on the interactions between the Native Americans (specifically, the Aztecs and Incas) and the Spanish Empire. There is a good bit to know here and (IMO) Spain and the Dutch are the most important of these Maritime Empires. Why? Well, this is the only real time both of them will be brought up (unless its in regards to them losing empire). Plus, the Spanish v. Americans storyline is one of the most important interactions in World History. The British Empire is a larger empire… but not in this period. So, invest some time here with the Spanish Empire:

1. RECONQUISTA
2. FERDINAND & ISABELLA
3. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
4. CONQUISTADOR
5. VICEROY

1. Journal of Christopher Columbus, Christopher Columbus, 1492 (Excerpt from Columbus’ journal about his first encounters with the Native Americans)
2. Compilation of Six of Pizarro’s companions of the Encounter at Cajamarca, Pizarro (Compiled by Jared Diamond), c. 1532; this is from the Chapter in Guns Germs and Steel covering the meeting of Pizarro and Atahualpa

3. A Short Account of the Destruction of the West Indies, Bart de la Casas, c. 1550
4. Florentine Codex, Bernardino Sahagun, c.1590 (Collection of Native American images, history, culture, religion, etc of the Native Americans)
5. Compendium and Description of the West Indies, Antonio Vazquez de Espinosa, 1620 (Account of the Potosi silver mines)

1. RETURN OF COLUMBUS, 1493, 19th Century painting

2. LAS CASTAS, Anon, 18th Century

3. OUR LADY of GUADALUPE, Juan Diego/Virgin Mary, 16th Century

4 POTOSI SILVER MINE, Pedro de Leon, 1553 (first image of the Potosi mine)

5. ILLUSTRATIONS OF DE LAS CASAS’ WRITINGS, De Bry

1. Spain and Portugal are the first two major European empires to set out into the oceans. And, of those two: Spain is the more successful/prolific.
2. Split the world in half. Vertically. Through Brazil. Think of the languages of Latin America. Portugal gets everything EAST of Brazil and Spain gets everything WEST.
3. The Spanish Empire will see Europeans, Africans, and Americans together for the first time. This leads to new classifications for their offspring known as the Castas (think Caste system in India).
4. The Spanish also implement the ENCOMIENDA system as well (think Manorial system but replace European peasants/serfs with Native Americans). This doesn’t last the whole time as people like De Las Casas will fight to get New Laws passed that will put an end to this system.
5. Spain might have been looking for Gold, but they found Silver. A lot. Like. A mountain of it. At first this is awesome, but goes bad quick… Ruining their economy in the Price Revolution. Next period, get ready for some revolutions to remove Spain from the New World.