Iberian American Empire Research Paper

The Iberian’s American empire was one of the largest and influential in history. As always, throughout history, great empires were driven by their social structures, economic systems, military expeditions, and so on. In the Spanish American empire, the social structure was paramedical. The foundation of the society was a cast and a class system. The most high ranked was Spaniards (Peninsular born in Europe) and were followed by Creoles considered as Europeans but born in Americas. African origin, native Amerindian, and the produce of their mixture that gave birth to a new race called Castas; filled the bottom lines of the pyramid. Obviously, by being the highest social ranked, the Peninsulars dominated the politics and the governance of the
empire. The Iberian’s American empire, the crown in Spain could not rule directly that large territory. Viceroys represented Spain’s authority and they governed until the nineteenth century. Creoles were powerful as well and were occasionally in conflict with Peninsulars. However, the northern part of the empire was softer governed. Indians and Spaniards agreed tacitly to establish a limited contact between them. The economy of this multiracial empire was based on agriculture, trade and mining. The Spaniards have brought over African slaves to the new world and make them work with Amerindians on vast plantations. Their vast system of trade was possible by the exploitations of minerals especially silver. One of the greatest silver exploitation took place in Potosi. Furthermore, the abundant extraction of silver stimulated the development of a more sustainable modern world economy.