Established by Charles V in 1524, the Council of the Indies served as Spain’s main governing body for its American colonies. It served as the supreme court for colonial affairs, advised the monarch on policy, appointed officials, drafted laws, and oversaw Catholic missions. Based in Madrid after 1555, it also oversaw the Casa de Contratación, which regulated trade between Spain and its New World possessions.
- Bartolomé de Las Casas
- New Laws of the Indies (1542)
- Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda
- Spanish Requirement of 1513
- Valladolid Debate (1550–1551)
AP US History Alignment
