Spanish Colonization of the philippines
In 1521, a Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan gave up his task of finding the Spice Islands. He then offered himself to serve the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles V of Spain. When he discovered the Philippine Islands he had claimed the lands for Spain.
Forty-Four years after, Miguel Lopez de Lagazpi led Spanish conquistadors to Cebu (which was also Magellan's location of his first arrival in The Philippines) to establish a colony and to gather supplies/resources. The Spaniards continued to establish settlements which led to Cebu becoming the first European settlement in the Philippine Islands. Along side with that, the Spaniards renamed the Islands to “Villa del Santís simo Nombre de Jesús” which translates to "Town of the Most Holy Name of Jesus" (1)
The Philippines was then added to the Spanish East Indies in 1571. Manila, was then established as the capital after defeating the Chinese pirate Limahong. Before Spanish colonization, China had trade and labor in the Philippines. Which was a great importance in the early development of the Spanish Colony. When China wanted to take control of the Philippines, they were just killed by the Spaniards. Chinese attempts to take part of the Philippines just resulted in large massacres. So to keep a good relation with China, Manila had become a leading commercial center of East Asia which carried on a prosperous trade with China. (2)
Spain continued to have power over the Philippines but was then interrupted by British troops in 1762. Britain occupied the islands so as a result, Spain's entry into the Seven Years' War. The British gave the island back to Spain but the temporary british occupation weakened Spain's power of the Philippines. An outburst of many rebellions and demands for independence. With further revolts, the Spanish resulted in losing entire power of the Philippines. (1)
|
|
(1) http://trunovelty10.edublogs.org/background-of-spanish-colonization-of-the-philippines/
(2) http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_history/spanish_colonization.html
(2) http://www.philippinecountry.com/philippine_history/spanish_colonization.html