NEW SPAIN

SPANISH COLONY

• Royal colony

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

• Mexico city is a major city
• Territories-unknown lands farther north
• Spanish interest in exploring also extended westward
• The Viceroyalty of New Spain, included most of Central America
• and about half of modern U.S territory

NATRUL RESOURCES

• During the 1540's, the Spaniards discovered silver mines
• They came for gold and found some

POPULATION

• Settlers came from Spain
• They came for adventure to find gold and other natural resources

ECONOMY

• Adelantados had direct ties to the crown,
• and they thus could act independently of the viceroy of New Spain.
• The viceroy was an official who ruled in the name of the king.
• Spain prohibited trade with foreign powers and limited opportunities for colonists to start businesses.
• Mining and exporting.

INTERESTING FACTS

• The majority of Mexicans are Mestizos.
• More than three-fourths of Mexico's people belong to the
• Roman Catholic Church
• The best farmland is in the southern part of Mexico's plateau.

THE END