Spanish Colonial Era
16th & 17th Century European Colonizing Efforts
European Nation
Geographical Range of Colonies
Widest range of colonization, from the tip of South America to the current American southwest and throughout the
Caribbean Sea.
Emphasis/Focus of
Colonies
Early attempts at discovering rich Indian cities diminished by
1560 as Spanish sought to defend their colonies and pacify tribes through
Franciscan missionary efforts. Portugal
Brazil
The Netherlands
New York, Delaware,
Caribbean islands,
Dutch Guiana in South
America.
France
1st permanent settlement at Quebec in
1608. Small colonies in
Central and South
America and the
Caribbean.
England
British Guiana, Central
America, Caribbean, and east coast of the present U.S.
Vast world empire taken over by Spain’s King
Philip II in 1580. Relying more on agriculture than gold-mining, Portuguese colonial leaders often returned home within 10 years. Focused almost exclusively on commerce, the Dutch brought few settlers
(only 1500 by 1665 in
New Netherland—New
York). Sugar and slave trade in Caribbean and
South America dominated Dutch interests. Colony of New France
(Canada) developed slowly with only 15,000 residents by 1700. Furhunting, rather than farming, became the chief economic activity.
Jesuit missionaries attempted to bring humane treatment to
Indians.
Early focus: search for wealth. Most successful of European nations at establishing selfsustaining colonies following early disasters in Virginia. 17th century colonial emphasis was on the sugar trade in the
Caribbean.
Spain
Of Special Note
First established colonies by
Columbus who brought slavery to the New World by sending Indians to
Europe and importing Africans to work in Spanish settlements. Earliest explorers of the 15th century were Portuguese, but Portugal was the least influential
European nation in the New World
Because Dutch
Governor
European Nation
Geographical Range of Colonies
Widest range of colonization, from the tip of South America to the current American southwest and throughout the
Caribbean Sea.
Emphasis/Focus of
Colonies
Early attempts at discovering rich Indian cities diminished by
1560 as Spanish sought to defend their colonies and pacify tribes through
Franciscan missionary efforts. Portugal
Brazil
The Netherlands
New York, Delaware,
Caribbean islands,
Dutch Guiana in South
America.
France
1st permanent settlement at Quebec in
1608. Small colonies in
Central and South
America and the
Caribbean.
England
British Guiana, Central
America, Caribbean, and east coast of the present U.S.
Vast world empire taken over by Spain’s King
Philip II in 1580. Relying more on agriculture than gold-mining, Portuguese colonial leaders often returned home within 10 years. Focused almost exclusively on commerce, the Dutch brought few settlers
(only 1500 by 1665 in
New Netherland—New
York). Sugar and slave trade in Caribbean and
South America dominated Dutch interests. Colony of New France
(Canada) developed slowly with only 15,000 residents by 1700. Furhunting, rather than farming, became the chief economic activity.
Jesuit missionaries attempted to bring humane treatment to
Indians.
Early focus: search for wealth. Most successful of European nations at establishing selfsustaining colonies following early disasters in Virginia. 17th century colonial emphasis was on the sugar trade in the
Caribbean.
Spain
Of Special Note
First established colonies by
Columbus who brought slavery to the New World by sending Indians to
Europe and importing Africans to work in Spanish settlements. Earliest explorers of the 15th century were Portuguese, but Portugal was the least influential
European nation in the New World
Because Dutch
Governor