How would a Spanish settled South Africa look.

If the Spanish had managed to set up shop in South African in the mid 1500s before the Iberian Union how would the colony look and how would it progress in its development.
 
Last edited:
First it would require pissing off Portugal as it would violate a series of treaties that had just been signed. And most Spanish trade with Asia goes through the Americas for a variety of economic reasons and won't attract many Spanish settlers. I can possibly see the Spanish keeping a small settlement for the comparatively few Spanish ships traveling that route but it's very unlikely to become an important possession.

I think a Spanish colony in South Africa is likely remain a small place for 50-100 years before inevitably being seized by the British, Dutch, or Portuguese who have far more strategic interest in the area and the settlers to devote to it.
 
Probably similar to parts of Brazil. Large mixed-race population, lots and lots of slavery by means of an African version of the bandeirantes who are nominally out trying to find gold.

I wouldn't be so certain that a Spanish South Africa would have a small population, either, since South Africa is well-known for gold and diamonds, both of which had a tendency to attract Spaniards in the colonial era. Since you'll be having all this gold/diamond mining going on, Spain will definitely fight to keep the place more than they would in other circumstances. Plus it'll have a decently large colonial population of its own.

The issue, of course, is the Tordesilhas Line which grants South Africa to Portugal.
 
Top