House of Trade (Casa de Contratación)

Timeline

1. 1503–1520Seville · SevilleFerdinand and Isabella established the Casa de Contratación in Seville, monopolizing trade with the Indies and later American colonies; all voyages required its approval and registration, laying the foundation of Spain's Atlantic trade administration.
2. 1531–1540Seville · SevilleIn the 1530s the Casa continued to license fleets bound for New Spain and the Caribbean, maintained the convoy system under the Laws of the Indies, preserved chart archives of navigators such as Ponce de León, and trained pilots to safeguard transoceanic voyages.
3. 1535–1540Seville–Mexico City route · Spain–New Spain routeAfter the Viceroyalty of New Spain was established in 1535, the Casa worked with the Council of the Indies to control migration, supplies, and the return flow of silver; the Seville–Veracruz route became the lifeline of colonial administration and commercial supply.