<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article is an orphan, as no other articles link to it . Please introduce links to this page from related articles; try the Find link tool for suggestions . (May 2011) </Td> </Tr> <P> Natural History in the Spanish New World The exploration of the New World by Spanish explorers resulted in the discovery of numerous plants and animals previously unknown to European natural history . The Spanish crown created institutions to facilitate the distribution of new knowledge . The Council of the Indies and the Casa de la Contratacion functioned as repositories of knowledge and constructed methodological guidelines for empirical research . Spanish physicians working in the New World provided detailed descriptions of the plants they encountered and conducted numerous experiments to determine the efficacy of these plants in treating diseases . While the discussion of natural history in the Scientific Revolution tends to focus on the research of Italian and English scholars, Spain was also engaged in an active pursuit of new knowledge about the natural world . However, the previously unknown nature of these plants forced an emphasis on empirical data as opposed to existing textual knowledge . Furthermore, the emphasis on profitability encouraged an emphasis on the commercial applications of new plants and influenced the manner in which these plants were described . </P> <P> The primary objective of Spanish exploration of New World flora was to discover commodities with commercial applications - specifically, spices and medicines . The sale of these products would finance further explorations . However, commercial concerns often intersected with the more practical issue of the health and welfare of the European explorers . Upon arrival in the New World, the Spaniards were confronted with diseases to which they had no prior exposure and no immunities . Many of the medicines the explorers had brought from Europe were ineffective in the treatment of New World diseases . Spanish physicians sought out local physicians in search of local medicines that would treat these "new" ailments . </P> <P> The emphasis on experience as a means of producing knowledge and verifying claims was an emerging trend in European natural history . In contrast to the established system that categorized new discoveries within the context of existing knowledge, this new approach emphasized firsthand experience to confirm that which had been recorded by ancient scholars such as Pliny, Dioscorides and Avicenna . The discovery of previously unknown plants and animals elevated the importance of experience and experiment . However, issues of authority and the verification of new knowledge continued to complicate the process . Because many of these plants were unknown to Europeans, the knowledge of native populations was necessary in order to identify useful plant material and determine proven remedies . What distinguished the New World efforts from those on the European continent was the increased dependence on empirical evidence to describe the commodities they encountered as well as the fact that this knowledge was constructed with the intent of exploiting potential commercial applications . With this in mind, unlike many of the natural history communities in other areas of Europe, the Spanish crown had considerable influence on the type of knowledge that was sought and the manner in which it was constructed . </P>

What were the main objectives of the spanish in the new world