spanish colonial administration

Spanish Colonial Administration

A policy born in the Reconquista

The first royal judicial body established in New Spain in 1527 was the audiencia of Mexico City. The audiencia consisted of four judges, who also held executive and legislative powers. The crown, however, was aware of the need to create a post that would carry the weight of royal authority beyond local allegiances. In 1535 control of the bureaucracy was handed over to Antonio de Mendoza, who was named the first viceroy of New Spain (1535-50). His duties were extensive but excluded judicial matters entrusted to the audiencia .

Look at the size of the Spanish Empire!

ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART 

Siglos XVI Y XVII 

CORONA 

Consejo de indias Casa de Contratación  Virreinatos  Real Audiencia  Corregimientos  Cabildos

Siglos XVIII Y XIX

                                                      Corona   

Consejo de Indias Casa de Contratación  Virreinatos Capitanías Generales Gobernaciones  Intendencias  Real Audiencia  Subdelegaciones  Cabildos 

A notable exception: The 1537 “cédula” from Charles V to the people of Río de la Plata. This is the only instance where “self-determination” is permitted in the colonial history of Latina America.

MAPS and Map study guide

Viceroyalties:

Audiencias: Cities: Bodies of Water:

Peru Nueva Galicia Mexico City Atlantic OceanNew Spain Mexico Porto Bello Pacific OceanNew Granada Guatemala Cartagena Lake TiticacaLa Plata Santo Domingo Havana Cape HornBrazil New Granada Santo Domingo Amazon River

Panama Caracas Strait of MagellanQuito Quito Rio de La PlataLima Santa Fe de

BogotaOrinoco River

Charcas La Paz Rio GrandeChile Potosi Caribbean Sea

Lima Gulf of MexicoSantiago Parana RiverBuenos AiresSao Paulo

Islands: Rio de JaneiroCuba Bahia (Salvador)Haiti CuzcoPuerto Rico Cajamarca

MontevideoRio Grande do SulAsuncion

You will be asked to find the following on a blank map. Page down for maps:

Map ofColonialLatinAmerica1700s

Map of New Spain

Map of SouthAmericaColonialAdministrativeUnits