Questions and Answers
What event marked the expulsion of the Moors from Spain?
What was the primary goal of Columbus's voyage?
Which civilization is referred to as the mother culture of Mexico?
What was the peak year of Mayan culture's development?
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Who was the Spanish conquistador responsible for the defeat of the Aztecs?
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What significant form of societal structure arose from the Spanish conquests in the Americas?
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What helped Hernán Cortez in his conquest of the Aztecs?
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In what year did the Spanish completely bring the Aztecs under their control?
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What was the primary motivation for Spaniards immigrating to the New World?
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What percentage of the Atlantic world economy's currency was sourced from the Viceroyalty of New Spain in 1800?
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Which group was identified as the fiercest opponents the Spaniards faced?
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Who was the Historian known as the father of Borderlands History?
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What was the role of audiencias in New Spain?
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What was the main purpose of the Spanish missions in the Borderlands?
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What characterized the social structure in New Spain?
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What was one reason for the diverse geographic mobility in New Spain?
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What did the colonization efforts in East Texas include during the second and permanent occupation?
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What was the fate of the French settlement led by La Salle?
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What type of grant did the missions receive to support their agricultural activities?
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What eventually led to the secularization of the missions in the 1790s?
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What was a significant threat to Spanish possessions in the New World during this period?
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What was the primary purpose of cabildos in local governance?
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Who composed the council in cabildos?
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What was the smallest land grant for a farm in the agricultural economy?
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How were ranches typically organized in terms of land grants?
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What significant economic contribution did the Diocese of Monterrey make in 1779?
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Which two types of land grants differentiated among ranches and haciendas?
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What was a major complaint against Col. Escandon regarding land grants?
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What were the Bourbon Reforms primarily focused on?
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What social class was typically allowed to vote or run for office in local governance?
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What was the outcome of the criollo grievances during the War of Independence?
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What led to increased economic activity in the time of the Bourbon Reforms?
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Who was José Vasquez Borrego and what was notable about him?
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What was a key feature of the agricultural economy by 1800 in the Valley?
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Study Notes
Motives for European Colonization and the New World Encounter
- Ferdinand and Isabella's marriage in 1469 marked the unification of Spain, culminating in the 1492 expulsion of the Moors.
- Spain sought to dominate trade in the Asian markets, prompting Columbus' voyage intended for the East Indies, leading to the European discovery of the New World.
- Columbus’ discovery triggered a wave of exploration, as various European nations aimed to capitalize on newly found lands.
Rise of Mestizaje
- Multiple migrations of Native Americans across the Bering Strait resulted in diverse clans.
- The Olmec civilization is recognized as the mother culture of Mexico, displaying advanced societal structures and cultural achievements.
- Maya civilization peaked around 1000 A.D., contributing concepts like zero and a rich cultural legacy, but suffered decline by 1300 A.D.
- The Aztecs established Tenochtitlan around 1300 A.D., potentially the world’s largest city at that time, with a rich cultural hub and intricate mythology.
Decline of the Aztecs
- Hernán Cortez landed in Mexico in 1518, leading to the fall of the Aztecs by 1521, aided by alliances with 60,000 Native Americans.
- It took approximately 150 years for the Spanish to fully dominate Aztec territories.
- Conquests in the Americas were marked by violence, including the systematic execution of Native leaders and aggressive military tactics.
Spaniards in the New World
- Spaniards aimed to "hacer America," chasing riches from gold and silver, particularly in Zacatecas, where mining booms began in 1546.
- By 1800, half of the gold and silver circulating in the Atlantic economy originated from the Viceroyalty of New Spain, enriching Spain.
- Extensive territories were colonized as officials and institutions, particularly the Church, expanded into New Spain.
New Spain's Governance
- The government of New Spain was hierarchical, lacking local colonial assemblies and relying heavily on the centralized advice of the Council of the Indies.
- Political structure included 60-70 viceroys over three centuries, with high courts (Audencias) overseeing justice.
- Local governance in towns was managed by cabildos which allowed some self-rule.
Social Structure and Mobility
- A rigid caste system emerged, favoring Europeans (peninsulares) over those born in the Americas (criollos).
- Social status was influenced by Spanish cultural assimilation, with better geographic mobility seen among soldiers and settlers.
Borderlands and Colonial Rivalries
- Caddo and Comanche tribes represented complex indigenous societies, with Comanche formidable in resistance to Spanish influence.
- Rivalries between Spanish and French colonials spurred territorial expeditions, particularly after La Salle's French settlement around 1685.
- Spanish efforts to occupy Texas began in 1690, establishing early missions and responding to French territorial threats.
Permanent Colonization Efforts
- By 1716, permanent Spanish presence included founding missions, presidios, and towns, with significant settlements like San Antonio.
- Jose de Escandon’s leadership from 1747-66 fostered the establishment of numerous towns and expanded colonial aspirations in South Texas.
Economic Foundations
- Agricultural economies thrived, with ranching and farming utilizing large land grants, contributing significantly to local commerce.
- The legacy of agriculture saw the region become increasingly productive, with a burgeoning livestock industry.
End of Spanish Rule
- Spain’s decline in the 18th century prompted Bourbon Reforms aimed at centralized governance and economic revitalization.
- Reforms included the establishment of intendancies, military restructuring, and a crackdown on Church influence; resulting economic gains but also social tensions.
- The War of Independence (1810-1821) was fueled by criollo discontent and external confusions from European conflicts, leading to a revolutionary fervor among various social groups in New Spain.
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Description
Explore the motives behind European colonization and the encounter with the New World, focusing on Spain's Reconquista and Columbus's voyage. Understand how economic competition influenced these historical events and the subsequent impact on European powers seeking new markets.
