| Starting in the 15th century, Spain built a huge colonial empire in the Americas, consisting of New Spain and other viceroyalties. |
| Spain quickly established the viceroyalties of New Spain and Peru, claimed all native gold and silver mines, and forced Indians to work them. |
| Then came the exposure of the population to the threat of piracy, a scourge which the Spanish tried to counteract throughout their viceroyalties with fortifications. |
| With the establishment of the Spanish viceroyalties, the era of European colonization began. |
| Fleets of great armed ships, loaded to the scuppers with silver and other treasures from the Viceroyalties of Peru and New Spain, were assembled and outfitted at Havana. |
| It is important to note that the church of Cuba received far less financial and political support than its counterparts in the more valued viceroyalties of New Spain and Peru. |
