How much gold did Spain take from South America?

Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge That’s quite a pre-nup. Between 1500 and 1650, the Spanish imported 181 tons of gold and 16,000 tons of silver from the New World. In today’s money, that much gold would be worth nearly $4 billion, and the silver would be worth over $7 billion.

What country colonized and took over most of Central and South America What were they looking for?

The Spanish conquistadors invaded areas of Central and South America looking for riches, ultimately destroying the powerful Aztec and Inca cultures.

How many Central and South American countries gained their independence from Spain before 1823?

Many of the continent’s 12 independent countries gained their freedom from European rulers in the months of July, August, or September, typically between the years of 1810-1825.

How has colonization affected South America?

The Conquest and Colonization of Latin America. The Spanish conquest of Latin America brought many important changes to Latin American society. The European encounter with the Native American Indians led to an exchange of ideas, customs, and technologies. Global cultural diffusion increased.

How did the Spanish get so much gold?

Almost overnight, Spain became very rich taking home unprecedented quantities of gold and silver. These were stolen from the Incas and the mines that the Spanish came to control. The gold was used by the Spanish monarchy to pay off its debts and also to fund its ‘religious’ wars.

How much gold did the Aztecs have?

They estimated that the gold and silver was worth about 22,500 pesos: this estimate was based on its worth as a raw material, not as artistic treasures.

What Central American countries gained independence from Spain?

The states that composed the Central American Federation (also referred to as the Federation of the Centre of America) were the states known today as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. These areas declared independence from Spain on September 15, 1821.

How did Spanish colonization affect Central America?

Colonial economy and society Spain encouraged the mining of precious metals, but Central American deposits were thin, and agriculture came to dominate the economy of the colony.