Casa de Contratación Established in Seville
The Casa de Contratación (House of Trade) was established in Seville in 1503 to regulate and control all commerce between Spain and its American colonies. It served simultaneously as a customs house, school of navigation, repository of geographical knowledge, and court for trade disputes. All ships sailing to and from the Americas were required to pass through Seville and register with the Casa, giving the Crown full control over the legal flow of silver, goods, and people across the Atlantic. The institution moved to Cádiz in 1717 and was abolished in 1790.
- Year: 1503 CE
- Category: Economic
