Laws of the Indies

Summary: The 1573 Laws of the Indies are reproduced here in part. These laws were part of Spain's effort to regulate discovery and settlement of land in the West Indies through specific planning and development requirements to be supervised by the governor. Specific development guidelines include directives regarding urban lot sizes, settlement population requirements, town common areas, plazas, the spatial layouts of towns, and aesthetic consideration for buildings. The laws state that the principal objective in discovery and settlement is to preach the Gospels to the natives and that the natives are not to be harmed or displaced by settlement. They require that persons who discover new lands take possession in Spain's name and immediately execute rituals to indicate that Spain is the rightful owner. The laws also require the discoverer to divide the area into a province, county, and specific area of settlement, leaving room for population growth, and to name the areas of land discovered and settled. Under the laws, a significant amount of land must be reserved for various religious purposes, such as for churches and monasteries. The laws encourage expansion of the Spanish population to undiscovered areas surrounding settled regions, specifically to those that are fertile, temperate, in close proximity to water, and rich in fauna. Enforcement provisions are included with some mandates; for example, if someone who is responsible for populating a town with Spaniards does not achieve the required population and infrastructure, he or she would be fined the amount of a thousand gold pesos.