Thus far, this blog’s posts have focused on Spain’s exploits in the Caribbean during the 16th and early 17th centuries – so much so that I feel as though I’ve painted the region as Spain’s private sea during this period. However, by the mid‑1600s, it was anything but. The English, French, and Dutch began making headway…
Introduction Who were the European rivals daring to challenge Spanish dominance in the uncharted territories of the Americas? In the shadowy aftermath of the Black Death, Europe, a continent once steeped in medieval traditions, began to stir with newfound energy and ambition. From this crucible of change and adversity arose powers poised to challenge the…
Introduction Early Modern Europe: From the Black Death to Colonial Rivalries We’ve extensively focused on the Spanish colonization of the Caribbean and the Americas and its impact on the region’s indigenous peoples due to their expansion. The next few posts will dive into the emergence of colonial rivals to the Spaniards back on the European…
Introduction Today, following up on our last post, we journey back to a time of exploration, conquest, and transformation as we explore the lives of three monumental figures: Francisco Pizarro, Juan Ponce de León, and Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar. These three Spanish conquistadors, each with unique tales of daring and discovery, left an indelible imprint…
Introduction The dawn of the 16th century marked a pivotal era in history as fearless conquistadors set their sights on the uncharted lands of the New World. Following up on our last post, discovering Juan Ponce de León’s role in establishing San Juan made me consider how other famous conquistadors launched their expeditions from the…
Persisting on the overarching topic of Spanish colonialism in the Caribbean, looking at some Spanish settlements established is vital. Under Spanish rule, the Caribbean had transformed into a hub of international trade and commerce. Spain had created “Las Antillas Occidentales,” the Spanish Antilles or West Indies. This term includes the islands of the Greater Antilles…
Introduction When writing my last post regarding the interactions between the native Amerindians and the Spanish settlers, the figure of Enriquillo stood out to me, and I decided to take a deeper dive into the character and his life. Enriquillo was a Taino cacique who lived in the 16th century on Hispaniola. He is best…
Introduction As discussed in a previous post, the Age of Exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries was a watershed moment in world history. Columbus’ trips to the Caribbean paved the way for the European colonization of the region. However, Columbus’ arrival in the Caribbean was not a peaceful encounter. The native peoples of the…
Introduction In our last post, we examined the four voyages of Christopher Columbus to the Caribbean and their initial impact on the region. But what about the people already living in the Caribbean when Columbus arrived that we touched on? This post will examine the vast and complex world of the Caribbean’s indigenous peoples. We…
Introduction The four Caribbean expeditions that Christopher Columbus made represent a significant period in exploration and colonization history. After receiving support from the Catholic monarchs of Spain, Christopher Columbus embarked on a journey that would irrevocably alter the path of human history. The Spanish conquest of the Americas began with this expedition to the Caribbean.…
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