Why was the Black Legend significant?

Question

Why was the Black Legend significant?

Answer 1

Assuming the 'Black Legend' refers to the near-annihilation of indigenous South & Central American cultures by Spanish colonisation...

Difficult to say - it certainly didn't slow down European colonisation of most of the world.

Best guess is that it effectively created an artificial 'higher moral level' in which  other countries could defend their own imperialist ventures on the rather dodgy grounds  that at least they weren't as bad as the Spanish. They were bringing civilisation to the Heathen Savage instead of wiping him out etc etc

Sounded good, but the newly acquired subjects were probably less than impressed with the logic.

Answer 2

The Black Legend does have to do with Spain. But not Spain's colonization of the New World. It has the do with the Spanish Inquisition and people being tortured and burned at the stake. It has to do with the negative image of Spain that the other countries of Europe, especially the Protestant nations had of Catholic Spain. To them Spain was the land of intolerance, bigotry, and torture. I hope that this has been a help to you.