What legal systems did the Spanish establish in conquered territories?

The Spanish established the 'Laws of the Indies' and the 'Encomienda' system in their conquered territories.

The Spanish Empire, during its conquest and colonisation of the New World, implemented a series of legal systems to govern and control the territories and their indigenous populations. The most significant of these were the 'Laws of the Indies' and the 'Encomienda' system.

The 'Laws of the Indies' were a comprehensive set of laws issued by the Spanish Crown from the 16th to the 19th centuries to regulate life in the colonies. These laws covered a wide range of issues, including the treatment of indigenous peoples, the organisation of colonial governments, and the management of trade and commerce. The laws were intended to protect the rights of the indigenous peoples and to ensure their fair treatment. However, in practice, these laws were often ignored or poorly enforced, leading to widespread abuse and exploitation.

The 'Encomienda' system was another key legal system established by the Spanish. This was a form of feudalism in which the Spanish Crown granted a number of indigenous people to Spanish colonists, known as 'encomenderos'. These encomenderos were supposed to protect the indigenous people, convert them to Christianity, and teach them Spanish. In return, they were allowed to extract labour and tribute from the indigenous people. However, like the Laws of the Indies, the Encomienda system was often abused, leading to severe exploitation and mistreatment of the indigenous populations.

In addition to these systems, the Spanish also established a complex bureaucracy to administer their colonies. This included the appointment of viceroys and governors, the establishment of royal courts and councils, and the creation of a system of taxation. These institutions were designed to ensure the smooth running of the colonies and to maintain Spanish control over the territories.

Overall, the legal systems established by the Spanish in their conquered territories were designed to facilitate the exploitation of the colonies' resources and to control and assimilate the indigenous populations. However, these systems were often marked by abuse and exploitation, leading to significant suffering and resistance among the indigenous peoples.