Atlantic Silver Fleet (1540s)

Timeline

1. 1540–1549Silver mining districts of Mexico and Peru · PeruSilver mines in Zacatecas, Mexico, and Peru continued to expand output in the 1540s; silver was carried overland to Veracruz, Panama, or Pacific ports, then transferred to Atlantic ports awaiting fleet assembly.
2. 1541–1549Caribbean-to-Spain route · SpainSpain organized annual escorted fleets (flota de Indias) to carry merchant ships laden with silver and goods across the Atlantic, defending against French, English, and other privateers and securing royal finances and merchant interests.
3. 1542–1549Seville · AndalusiaOn arrival at Seville, silver was registered by the Casa de Contratación and distributed to the crown, merchants, and European markets; part flowed via Genoese banking networks to the Low Countries and Germany, indirectly supporting the Asian spice trade.