Spanish Colonial Policy

Spanish Colonial Policy refers to the strategies and regulations implemented by Spain to govern its colonies in the Americas and elsewhere from the late 15th to the early 19th centuries. This policy aimed to extract resources, spread Christianity, and establish Spanish culture. The Spanish Crown granted land and authority to various individuals and institutions, leading to the encomienda system, which allowed colonizers to control Indigenous peoples for labor. Conflicts often arose due to exploitation and cultural imposition. Ultimately, these policies contributed to resistance movements that led to independence in many Latin American nations in the early 1800s.