Spain's policy refers to the official guidelines and rules set forth by the Spanish government regarding their actions and decisions during the time of conquest. It outlines the methods and practices that were expected to be followed by Spanish conquistadors.
Related terms
Colonialism: Colonialism refers to the practice of establishing colonies or settlements in foreign territories with the intention of exploiting resources, expanding influence, or establishing control over those areas.
Encomienda system: The encomienda system was an arrangement under Spain's policy where indigenous peoples were placed under the control of Spanish colonizers who had been granted authority over them. This system often led to exploitation and forced labor.
Mercantilism: Mercantilism is an economic theory prevalent during this time period which emphasized that a country's wealth and power depended on accumulating precious metals through trade, colonization, and maintaining favorable balances of trade.