INDIES, LAWS OF THE


Meaning of INDIES, LAWS OF THE in English

Entire body of law promulgated by the Spanish crown in the 16th–18th centuries for the governance of its colonies.

It consists of a compendium of decrees on church government and education, upper and lower courts, political and military administration, Indians, finance, navigation, and commerce. A summary promulgated in 1681 contained 6,377 laws; though criticized for its inconsistencies, for excessive attention to unenforceable details, and for depriving colonists of a responsible role in government, it was the most comprehensive law code ever instituted for a colonial empire, and it set forth humane (if often ignored) principles for treatment of Indians.

Britannica English dictionary.      Английский словарь Британика.