Introduction
South America is a continent that is rich in natural resources. In the 16th and 17th centuries, European countries began to colonize the region. The Spanish Empire expanded across most of South America by 1519 and set up colonies where Europeans exploited these resources. Native Americans were forced to work in mines, farms and workshops where they made things like textiles for the colonists. This system allowed Europeans to get rich off their new territories while leaving many indigenous people poor or even starving
South America was the last continent to be discovered by Europeans.
In 1498, Christopher Columbus landed on Hispaniola and established a settlement there. This marked the beginning of European colonization in South America, which lasted until independence movements in the early 19th century.
European nations set up colonies and began exploiting resources such as gold and silver; they also brought diseases that had previously been unknown to native populations. The Spanish Empire expanded across most of South America by 1519 under Charles V (Holy Roman Emperor) who appointed Francisco Pizarro governor over what became known as New Castile or Peru today.[1]
Colonialism started in 1498 when Christopher Columbus landed on the island of Hispaniola.
The first European to arrive in the Americas was Christopher Columbus, who landed on the island of Hispaniola in 1498. After his voyage across the Atlantic Ocean, he enslaved and forced natives to work in gold mines. He also introduced diseases like smallpox that wiped out entire populations of Native Americans.
During this time period there were no laws against slavery or genocide so it was common practice for Europeans to enslave natives and force them into laborious jobs such as farming sugar cane fields or mining for gold (which was used as currency).
In South America, European countries set up colonies and began exploiting resources, especially gold and silver.
The Spanish were the first to arrive in South America in 1492. They set up their first permanent colony at St. Augustine in Florida; however they soon realized that this area did not have enough resources for them to be able to make a profit from it. So instead they moved further south until they reached what is now Venezuela where they started mining gold and other minerals on an industrial scale with enslaved African labor
The Spanish Empire expanded across most of South America by 1519.
The Spanish Empire expanded across most of South America by 1519. Spain was the first country to colonize South America, and they established colonies in what are now Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia. By this time other countries had begun their own colonization efforts in South America as well, including Portugal (who controlled Brazil), France (French Guiana) and England (Guyana).
In these new colonies, Europeans developed systems that allowed them to exploit the labor of native peoples.
The most common form of forced labor in South America was encomienda (also known as repartimiento). Encomiendas were grants given by Spanish kings or viceroys to colonists who promised to teach Christianity and civilization to Native Americans in exchange for their “right” to take part of their crops each year–a practice that led directly to widespread malnutrition among natives.
In many areas where encomenderos did not provide adequate food for those under their charge, farmers were allowed to supplement their incomes by selling produce on the black market at higher prices than those set by colonial authorities; this practice became known as contrabandismo (contrabandism).
Native Americans were forced to work in mines, farms and workshops where they made things like textiles for the colonists.
The natives were paid with food and clothing. Some native americans worked on their own land, but others were enslaved by the colonists.
South American society and culture have been greatly affected by colonialism.
The impact of colonialism on South American society and culture is a topic that has been studied for many years, and the results are still being felt today. Some of the most important changes were:
- European languages were brought to South America, replacing indigenous languages.
- The Catholic Church was established as the dominant religion in many countries.
- Many ethnic groups were enslaved or killed during wars between colonists from different countries (e.g., Argentina vs Brazil).
Conclusion
Colonialism has had a profound impact on South American society and culture.
