This system of government, with the many separate offices or audiencias each wielding authority largely in their own way in their own district, yet with each audiencia coordinated in its larger efforts and guiding principles by the Council of the Indies, appears to have been a highly successful government. For better or for worse, the Spanish government managed to maintain dominion over much of the Caribbean and in Central and South America for many centuries, and this system of government administration was in place for much of that time (Stearns & Langer 2001). The degree of autonomy that each audiencia enjoyed made it easy for them to govern both effectively and flexibility, responding to issues and opportunities within their district without the need to check with higher authorities in most regards. This greatly increased the efficacy of the overall governmental structure.

This does not mean that there isn't room for...
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