Summary
This monumental collection, published in the 19th century under anonymous editorial direction, compiles a vast series of previously unpublished documents relating to the Spanish exploration, conquest, and administration of its overseas territories from the 15th to 18th centuries.
The volumes gather letters, royal decrees, official reports, testimonies, and chronicles that shed light on Spain’s expansion into the Americas, the Philippines, and other parts of its empire.
The documents provide firsthand insight into:
1.
The voyages of discovery following Columbus,
2. The military campaigns and conquests carried out by figures such as Cortés and Pizarro,
3. The establishment of colonial governance and legal frameworks,
4.
Interactions between Spaniards and indigenous populations, including conflicts, cultural exchanges, and missionary efforts,
5. Economic exploitation and the organization of trade, mining, and agriculture in the colonies.
The Colección serves as a primary source archive for historians, offering a raw and unfiltered view of Spanish colonialism, its ambitions, contradictions, and profound global impact.
It is considered one of the most valuable references for the study of early modern imperial history.