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The Colonial, First City of America
Compiled by Alberto Galvá
Disputed by many other cities in the Americas,
Santo Domingo for those who know that cheating can not win, even if you
"win" is arguably the first city in the new world, because it
formally first put its foundation the seat a "civilized" European man
city.
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Por Alberto Galvá
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As we know, in academia no longer speak of
"discovery" but "encounter" of two cultures, for indeed
there is abundant records of human settlements across the continent long before
the arrival of Europeans to the New World.
But it was certainly the expedition led by Admiral
Don Christopher Columbus who opened the door to a new maritime, commercial and
cultural route that survives to this day.
And unfortunate or fortunately was the island of
the Spanish headquarters of the first human settlement in the New World.
This first settlement took place on the shores of
what is now Haiti, Quisqueya before then baptized by Columbus as Spanish.
Years later, the Spanish crown Nicolas de Ovando
responsible administration of the island.
On 13 February 1502 he left Spain with 30 vessels,
with the largest fleet of ships bound for the Americas. They embarked in total
some 2,500 settlers, and unlike Christopher Columbus, this group of settlers
was chosen at random to represent the Spanish society in the New World.
Ovando's plan, drawn up by the Catholic Monarchs was to develop both the basic
economics of the Spanish, as well as establish social, religious and
administrative political structures of the colony.
Next to him also traveled Francisco Pizarro, who
later would explore the western region of South America and conquer the Inca
Empire. Likewise, in another vessel of the same trip, he was Fray Bartolome de
las Casas, later known as "The Protector of the Indians".
When Nicolas de Ovando arrived in the New World he
found that the native population was in a state of rebellion. Such rebellion
was suppressed through a series of bloody campaigns. So in 1504 he ordered
hanged Taíno princess Anacaona. A series of epidemics reduced the population of
Hispaniola: when Christopher Columbus arrived on that island, in 1492, the
native population was estimated almost 500,000 inhabitants but
nevertheless, according to the census taken in 1507, the natives had been
reduced to only 60,000 people.1
Ovando founded (or ordered the foundation) of
several cities in the Spanish, including: Compostela de Azua (or Azua de
Compostela), Santa María de la Vera Paz, Bayajá (now Fort Liberté, Haiti),
Salvatierra de la Sabana (today, Les Cayes, Haiti), Higuey, Cotuí, Puerto
Plata, Santa Cruz de Hicayagua (today, El Seibo in Dominican Republic) .2
In the late fifteenth century they were erected in
the Spanish Island the first colonial houses of all the Americas. These first
houses, the result of an urgent need accommodations for conquerors and
immigrants, were raised in the context of urban centers founded by the great
admiral and his brother Bartholomew Columbus. Thus came to life the villages of
La Isabela, La Vega and Santo Domingo de Guzman, the latter in its original
seat on the east bank of the Ozama River. There were also other centers
historically linked to the conquering company, military and economic nature,
many of which have disappeared.
This construction activity was supported by
different expeditions stonemasons, master builders and architects, many of whom
enjoyed great prestige in the metropolis.
In 1502 Santo Domingo reach the supreme commander
of the Order of Alcantara Fray Nicolas de Ovando. This is chosen to transfer
the seat of the city to the west bank of the Ozama River. Nicolas de Ovando is
the founder of the new city of Santo Domingo, because after choosing the
settlement, personally directs the layout and organization of the town with a
new name: Santo Domingo.
The most important colonial buildings in the city
include the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Menor, called Cathedral of America,
which establishes the distinction, the Alcazar de Colon, first castle America
and residence of the Viceroy of the Indies, Don Diego Columbus, son Christopher
Columbus; the Monastery of San Francisco, the ruins of the first monastery in
America; the Museo de las Casas Reales, the former Palace of the Governor
General, the Palace of the Royal Court; Columbus Park, a historic square, the
Ozama Fortress, the oldest fortress in America; the Pantheon of the Fatherland,
a former Jesuit building that houses the remains of several distinguished
representatives of the Dominican Order, and the Church of the Convento
Dominico, the first convent in America.
Throughout its first century, Santo Domingo was
largely platform exploration and conquest of the New World.
In 1586, Francis Drake occupied the city demanding
a ransom for it. The invasion and looting of Drake of the Spanish and a Spanish
domain weakened, the capital was abandoned and left to the mercy of pirates for
more than 50 years. An expedition sent by Oliver Cromwell in 1655 attacked the
city of Santo Domingo, but was defeated and withdrew taking Jamaica instead.
