Pearson Edexcel · GCSE · History
Course version: 1HI0 · Version from Sept 2016
Key topic 3: The Spanish Empire c1528–c1555 - 2 Expansion of empire: The…
Full specification wording
Option P1: Key topic 3: The Spanish Empire c1528–c1555 - 2 Expansion of empire: The significance of the discovery of silver in Bolivia and in Mexico. The foundation of La Paz (1548).
The discovery of vast silver deposits transformed the Spanish Empire.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 1HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 2
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
The discovery of vast silver deposits transformed the Spanish Empire. In Bolivia, the 1545 discovery at Potosí created a booming mining economy, relying heavily on indigenous forced labour through the encomienda system and yanaconas (retainers). Similarly, the 1546 discovery in Zacatecas, Mexico, drove northern expansion and generated immense wealth for the Spanish Crown. To secure the transport route for Potosí's silver to the coast and assert control following civil conflicts among conquistadors, the Spanish founded La Paz in 1548. This strategic settlement acted as a vital commercial hub, cementing Spanish authority and facilitating the extraction of unprecedented mineral wealth that funded Spain's global ambitions.
What earns the marks
- Identify Potosí (Bolivia, 1545) and Zacatecas (Mexico, 1546) as the primary sites of silver discovery.
- Explain how these discoveries shifted the economic focus of the empire from plunder to systematic mining and extraction.
- Describe the foundation of La Paz in 1548 as a strategic move to control the silver trade routes from Potosí to the Pacific coast.
- Analyse the social impact, specifically the exploitation of indigenous populations through early forced labour systems like the encomienda and yanaconas.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Confusing the locations of the silver mines.
Put it right: Potosí is in Bolivia (Viceroyalty of Peru) and Zacatecas is in Mexico (New Spain).
Assuming La Paz was founded primarily as a mining town.
Put it right: La Paz was founded in 1548 as a commercial and administrative hub to protect the silver transport route.
Stating that early silver mining relied on the mita system or enslaved Africans.
Put it right: The initial labour force for the silver mines before 1573 was the indigenous population using the encomienda system and yanaconas.
Exam tips
- Use the specific dates (1545 for Potosí, 1546 for Zacatecas, 1548 for La Paz) to demonstrate precise chronological knowledge.
- When explaining significance, link the local foundation of La Paz directly to the broader economic need to transport Bolivian silver safely.
- Discuss both the economic benefits to Spain and the devastating human cost to the indigenous populations to provide a balanced analysis.
Try the lesson
The start of the Option P1: Key topic 3: The Spanish Empire c1528–c1555 - 2 Expansion of empire: The significance of the discovery of silver in Bolivia and in Mexico. The foundation of La Paz (1548). lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What was the primary reason for the foundation of the city of La Paz in 1548?
Listen
The discovery of vast silver deposits transformed the Spanish Empire. In Bolivia, the 1545 discovery at Potosí created a booming mining economy, relying heavily on indigenous forced labour through the encomienda system and yanaconas (retainers). Similarly, the 1546 discovery in Zacatecas, Mexico, drove northern expansion and generated immense wealth for the Spanish Crown. To secure the transport route for Potosí's silver to the coast and assert control following civil conflicts among conquistadors, the Spanish founded La Paz in 1548. This strategic settlement acted as a vital commercial hub, cementing Spanish authority and facilitating the extraction of unprecedented mineral wealth that funded Spain's global ambitions. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify Potosí (Bolivia, 1545) and Zacatecas (Mexico, 1546) as the primary sites of silver discovery. Explain how these discoveries shifted the economic focus of the empire from plunder to systematic mining and extraction. Describe the foundation of La Paz in 1548 as a strategic move to control the silver trade routes from Potosí to the Pacific coast. Analyse the social impact, specifically the exploitation of indigenous populations through early forced labour systems like the encomienda and yanaconas. A common slip: Confusing the locations of the silver mines. Instead, Potosí is in Bolivia (Viceroyalty of Peru) and Zacatecas is in Mexico (New Spain). Exam tip: Use the specific dates (1545 for Potosí, 1546 for Zacatecas, 1548 for La Paz) to demonstrate precise chronological knowledge.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Discovery of silver at Potosí in Bolivia
- 2. Foundation of La Paz to control silver trade routes
- 3. Discovery of silver at Zacatecas in Mexico
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Economic exploitation
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Imperial expansion
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Indigenous impact
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Strategic settlement
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Economic exploitation
- The booming mining economy relied heavily on indigenous forced labour through the encomienda system and yanaconas.
- Imperial expansion
- The 1546 discovery in Zacatecas, Mexico, drove northern expansion and generated immense wealth for the Spanish Crown.
- Indigenous impact
- The social impact was the exploitation of indigenous populations through early forced labour systems like the encomienda and yanaconas.
- Strategic settlement
- La Paz, founded in 1548, acted as a vital commercial hub, cementing Spanish authority and facilitating the extraction of mineral wealth.
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