Spanish Colonial America

Definition

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.