-
1519
Cortes Conquers Aztecs
Cortés and his men conquer the entire Aztec Empire in what will later become Mexico. -
1521
New Spain governed by an audience
By real cedula it is arranged that the new Spain be governed by an audiencua, which begins to work from 1527 to 1531 -
Nov 8, 1521
Cortes captures Tenochtitlan
Hernán Cortés and approximately 100 Spaniards capture the capital of the Aztec Empire. -
1532
The Second Hearing
The second hearing, under the direction of Sebastian Ramírez de fue nical, organization of the collection of geographical information that bears the name of the description of New Spain -
1542
New Laws in New Spain
The new laws of the Indies are published in the new Spain with the objective of protecting the indigenous people from the encomenderos -
The Spanish explore the coast of California
This sets the stage for their eventual missions and colonies there -
Piet Hein Captures a Spanish Silver Fleet
This is one of the most notable examples of the piracy that threatened trade between New Spain and its mothercountry. -
First mission established in the Marianas Islands (Guam)
The Spanish presence in this area enabled them to trade with Asia, using the Pacific Ocean. -
El Convento de San Francisco is consecrated
This monastery in Lima, Peru, is an excellent example of the Latin American Baroque architecture of the time. -
Pueblo Revolt
The native Pueblo Indians drive the Spanish out of New Mexico, killing around 400 settlers in the process. -
A French Flag Flies over Texas
La Salle establishes Fort St. Louis for France near Matagorda Bay in Texas. Although short lived, it was a challenge to the Spanish power in the area. -
Spanish return to New Mexico
After their expulsion due to the Pueblo revolt, the Spanish eventually return twelve years later, with little to no resistance. However, the Spanish were now willing to give the natives far more freedoms than before, such as religious freedom and the right to representation in courts. -
First Newspaper in New Spain is Published
El Mercurio Volante is published by Carlos de Siguenza y Gongora. -
Death of Charles II of Spain
Charles II was the last Hapsburg ruler of Spain, who had previously been ruling Spain and New Spain to some extent since 1519. After his death, half of Europe becomes embroiled in a 13 year war to decide the sucessor, with the victor being the Duke of Anjou, who became known as Phillip V. -
Bourbon Reforms
After the Phillip V of the house of Bourbon ascended to the Spanish throne, he made many reforms. Among these was the formal abolishment of the dated ecomienda system, which had dominated New Spain for centuries, and the replacement of the viceroyalty system with the Intendancies system, which was borrowed from France.