Problems of Distance, Communications, and Authority: How Charles V and Philip II Ruled the Global Spanish Empire

This essay explains how the Spanish (or Castilian) crown during sixteenth and seventeenth centuries managed its worldwide empire. It emphasizes contribution of, tension between, crown’s two main strategies: political decentralization – or delegation imperial centralization. To begin, it contextualizes issue by exploring situation at time problems of distance communication were closely linked. Secondly, drawing on comments both contemporary observers modern historians, this paper examines approaches used kings in ensuring optimum reliability their intelligence networks within Europe with America. Thirdly, is approached. The (1) outlines context for Charles V Philip II differed regard (2) gives several representative examples use abroad. Using American colonies as a case study, (3) explores centralized, peninsula-based forms administrative (i.e. councils juntas) (4) addresses decentralized, colonial types delegated government; specifically, viceroys audiencias. Lastly, strategy centralization which Spain unified global argues that, ultimately, these monarchs combination various means to ensure that they received steady flow reliable information. They also utilized centralized authority decentralized administration provinces governed efficiently.