1. Unit 3 Age of Exploration
Lesson 4 Spanish colonization
In Latin America (SPAIN)

2. Spanish colonization In Latin America (SPAIN)
Learning Target Students can explain how the emergence of Spanish colonies leads to a need for slaves from Africa

3. Background
For many years, the Spanish explored the Americas. Hernando de Soto – one of Pizarro’s men – went north and explored Florida. Then he turned west. By 1541, he reached the Mississippi River.
Another Spaniard, Francisco de Coronado, led an expedition into the southwest of North America. Spain claimed control of this area in 1560 and called it “New Mexico.”

4. Spanish colonization In Latin America (SPAIN)
S – Spain claims conquered lands
Spain names the lands of the Aztecs and Incas “New Spain”
The king of Spain sent viceroys, or officials, to govern the provinces of New Spain
Land was given to Spaniards to encourage settlement in these new areas
Viceroys ruled over colonists and the conquered peoples

7. Spanish colonization In Latin America (SPAIN)
P – Plantations are formed
Spanish landowners wanted to make money on their new land (they needed millions of people)
The Spanish forced Native Americans to work on plantations, or large areas of farm land

8. Spanish colonization In Latin America (SPAIN)
A – A system of forced labor is created
The system of forced labor is called the encomienda
The encomienda was intended to protect the Native Americans and enrich the Spanish Empire
Two main goals of the encomienda was to care for Natives and convert them to Christianity
In reality, the Native peoples were often abused and overworked, as a result many died

9. Spanish colonization In Latin America (SPAIN)
I – Immunity of disease
Even more devastating to the Native American population than conquering or the encomienda were diseases brought to the Americas by the European settlers
The Natives had no immunity to these diseases, as a result many more died

10. Changes in Native American Populations of Central America (1519 – 1605)

11. Spanish colonization In Latin America (SPAIN)
N – Need for slaves increase
To replace lost workers, the Spanish began importing African slaves
Slavery reached new levels during the exploration of the Gold Coast of Africa by Portugal and the New World by Spain