The
Laws of the Indies are the
entire body of laws issued by the
Spanish Crown for the
American and Philippine possessions of its
empire. They regulated social, political and economic life in these areas. The laws are composed of myriad decrees issued over the centuries and the important laws of the 16th century, which attempted to regulate the interactions between the settlers and natives, such as the
Laws of Burgos (1512) and the
New Laws (1542).