Spanish Conquests in Central and South America. 15th—19th centuries. The largest colonial empire from its rise to its fall

The Spanish Empire was the first among the great sea-born empires of Western Europe, vast and the wealthiest, which made it an object of envy, fear, and hatred.
Prominent British historian John Perry presents the history of the rise, flourishing, and decline of the great maritime Spanish power. The author traces Spain's influence on Central and South America, presenting a wide and vivid picture of the conquest process, economic and social consequences for Spain, and the efforts it made to maintain control over these vast territories. Perry explores the complex management of the empire, its economy, social structure, the role of the Church, the destruction of the cultures of the conquered territories, and the impact of their decline on Spanish politics. John Perry's classic study laid the foundation for a new aspect in the study of the history of the former Spanish colonies in Latin America and the transformation of pre-Columbian culture into colonial states.