Spanish Colonial America refers to the territories in the Americas that were colonized and controlled by Spain during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. This includes areas such as present-day Mexico, Central America, South America, and parts of the Caribbean.
Related terms
Encomienda System: The encomienda system was a labor system used by the Spanish in which indigenous people were forced to work on plantations or mines under harsh conditions.
Mestizos: Mestizos were people of mixed European and indigenous ancestry who emerged as a distinct social group in Spanish Colonial America.
Peninsulares: Peninsulares were people born in Spain who held high positions of power in Spanish Colonial America.