Viceroyalty System (Spain)
- Spain divided its American empire into viceroyalties (large regions) to make governing easier.
- A viceroy acted as the king’s representative, overseeing law, order, and taxes.
- The first viceroyalties were New Spain (Mexico, 1535) and Peru (1542); later New Granada and Rio de la Plata were added.
- Viceroys relied on local officials and councils but ultimate power came from Spain.
Captaincy System (Portugal)
- Portugal used the captaincy system in Brazil.
- The land was divided into strips, each given to a Portuguese noble (a captain).
- Captains were responsible for settling, defending, and exploiting their land, but many failed because of poor resources.
- Eventually, the Portuguese crown took tighter control, turning Brazil into a royal colony.
Habsburg Rule (Spain, 1500s–1700)
- Spain’s empire in the Americas grew under the Habsburg kings.
- They relied on viceroys and councils (like the Council of the Indies) to control distant colonies.
- The empire was highly centralized: decisions came from Spain, though enforcement was often weak in practice.
- Heavy reliance on silver from the Americas fueled Spain’s European wars.
Early Bourbon Rule (Spain, 1700s)
- The Bourbons replaced the Habsburgs after 1700.
- They introduced “Bourbon Reforms”: new taxes, tighter trade controls, and more military presence in the Americas.
- These reforms aimed to strengthen Spain but created resentment among colonists, who felt exploited.
Braganza Rule (Portugal)
- The House of Braganza took over Portugal in 1640 after breaking from Spanish control.
- Under Braganza kings, Portugal invested more in Brazil’s sugar economy and later gold mining in Minas Gerais.
- Brazil grew in importance as Portugal’s richest colony, and Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the Portuguese empire in the 18th century.
Hint
- Always connect economy to empire
- When writing about the Viceroyalty of Peru, link silver production at Potosí to Spain’s global influence, European inflation (the Price Revolution), and the rise of global trade networks reaching China via Manila.
- Use continuity and change
- Show how the Spanish adapted existing Inca systems (like the mita) rather than creating entirely new ones. This demonstrates continuity in Indigenous structures but also highlights change under colonial exploitation.
Definition
Mita System
A colonial labor draft based on an Inca practice of rotational communal work. Under Spanish rule, it became a coercive system forcing Indigenous men to work in mines like Potosí, often under brutal and deadly conditions.
Common Mistake
- Mixing up Spanish viceroyalties with Portuguese captaincies. They were different systems.
- Forgetting the shift from Habsburg → Bourbon in Spain and how it changed governance.
- Treating Portugal as a minor power, when Brazil became very wealthy under Braganza rule.
Exam technique
- Name the systems clearly i.e. viceroyalty (Spain), captaincy (Portugal).
- Show change over time : Habsburg centralized rule vs. Bourbon reforms; Portuguese independence under Braganza.
- Connect politics to economy : how sugar, silver, and gold shaped colonial administration.
Case study
The Viceroyalty of Peru
- Creation and Purpose
- Established in 1542 by King Charles V to consolidate Spanish control over South America after the conquest of the Inca Empire. Its capital, Lima, became the administrative and religious center of Spanish America.
- Economic Importance
- Controlled the Potosí silver mines (in modern Bolivia), which became the largest single source of silver in the world. The enormous output fueled the Spanish Empire’s global dominance and the rise of early modern capitalism.
- Labor Systems
- The mita system, adapted from the Inca tradition of communal labor, was repurposed into a form of coerced labor for mining and construction. Indigenous people were forced to work under brutal conditions, leading to high mortality rates and depopulation.
- Governance and Bureaucracy
- The viceroy ruled as the king’s representative with broad powers, overseeing justice, defense, and the Church. However, effective governance relied on local officials (corregidores and encomenderos), who often abused their authority.
- The Church’s Role
- The Catholic Church played a crucial role in administration and education, helping to convert Indigenous populations and justify Spanish rule through missionary efforts.
- Social Hierarchy
- A strict racial and social hierarchy developed where Spaniards born in Spain (peninsulares) held the top positions, followed by American-born Spaniards (creoles), mestizos, Indigenous peoples, and Africans.
- Resistance and Reform
- Indigenous revolts, such as the Túpac Amaru II Rebellion (1780–1783), revealed deep tensions caused by exploitation and inequality. These uprisings later inspired independence movements across Latin America.
- Long-Term Impact
- The wealth from Peru financed Spain’s European wars and imperial expansion, but dependency on silver also caused economic stagnation and inflation (the “Price Revolution”).
Self review
- Compare the viceroyalty and captaincy systems as methods of colonial governance.
- To what extent did Bourbon reforms change Spanish political organization in the Americas?
- Examine the importance of the Braganza dynasty in shaping Brazil’s political and economic development.
