Casa de Contratación of Seville

Timeline

1. 1503Seville · SpainBy decree of the Catholic Monarchs, the Casa de Contratación was established in Seville, concentrating Spanish American trade in a single port under a system of royal licenses and registration, laying the foundation for the colonial commercial administration of the next century and more.
2. 1561–1570Seville · AndalusiaPhilip II strengthened centralization, and the Casa more rigorously reviewed fleet composition, passenger lists, and cargo manifests; during the period of massive silver inflows into Europe, it became a key gateway for imperial finance and colonial supply.
3. 1550–1620Seville–Spanish America route · Spanish AmericaThe Casa coordinated the annual fleets to and from American ports, registering silver and mercury shipped from Peru and Mexico and European manufactures on the return voyages, making Seville the undisputed center of western hemisphere trade in the 16th century.