17th Century

Viceroyalties, Audiencias, and Cabildos in Spanish America
Spanish America before the Bourbon reforms was governed through layered institutions that made royal power depend on negotiation.

Charles I and the Origins of the English Civil War
The English Civil War grew from disputes over taxation, religion, Parliament, and control of armed force under Charles I.

Colonial Brazil (1500-1822): Politics, Economy and Society
For three centuries, Brazil was ruled by Portugal under a harsh colonial system whose practices continued long after independence.

The Life of African Slaves in Brazil: Violence and Resistance
Africans and their descendants lived in subjugation in Brazil, but they resisted it and left a legacy in Brazilian society.

African Slave Trade to Brazil: Reasons, Operation, and End
For many centuries, millions of Africans were transported to Brazil, where they were enslaved to sustain the economy.

Indigenous Slavery in Brazil: Motives, Obstacles, and Laws
Indigenous labor was widely used in the early stages of Brazil's colonization and persisted in various regions even after successive laws prohibited it.

Dutch Brazil: Conquest, Reconquest and Legacy
In the 17th century, the Netherlands gained control of a significant part of Brazil, seeking to dominate the sugar trade.

English Revolutions in the 17th Century: An Overview
The period began with the struggle against the Tudors, and ended with the ascension of Dutch monarchs to the English throne.

Brazilian Economy in the Colonial Period
The economy of Colonial Brazil was characterized by the predominance of sugar and mining, along with some other less relevant activities.