1. Population:
- English colonies: The population of English colonies was relatively small, with a few thousand settlers primarily concentrated in Jamestown and Plymouth.
- Spanish colonies: The Spanish had established a significantly larger population in their colonies, with settlements in Florida, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Spanish colonies such as Mexico City and Lima had substantial urban populations.
2. Economic Activities:
- English colonies: The English primarily focused on subsistence agriculture, fishing, and fur trade. They struggled economically and faced challenges in sustaining their settlements.
- Spanish colonies: The Spanish colonies had more diversified economies, including mining (especially for gold and silver), agriculture (such as sugar and tobacco), and trade with their established networks in the Americas and Europe.
3. Relations with Indigenous Peoples:
- English colonies: Relations between English settlers and Native American tribes varied, ranging from peaceful coexistence to conflicts.
- Spanish colonies: The Spanish often had tense relations with indigenous populations, marked by conflicts, forced labor, and the spread of diseases.
4. Religious Practices:
- English colonies: The English colonies exhibited greater religious diversity compared to the Spanish colonies. This included Puritan settlements (Plymouth), Anglican settlements (Jamestown), and other Protestant denominations.
- Spanish colonies: The Spanish colonies were predominantly Roman Catholic, with religious uniformity enforced through the Inquisition. Non-Catholics were generally not tolerated.
5. Colonial Administration:
- English colonies: The English colonies were governed by joint-stock companies and later came under the control of the English crown, with varying degrees of autonomy.
- Spanish colonies: The Spanish colonies were directly governed by the Spanish monarchy through a system of viceroys and royal officials, with less regional autonomy.
6. Territorial Claims:
- English colonies: The English claimed territories along the Atlantic coast of North America, including the Roanoke Island settlement and the later Jamestown settlement in Virginia.
- Spanish colonies: The Spanish had extensive territorial claims in the Americas, covering much of the Caribbean, Central America, South America, and parts of North America, including Florida.
In summary, the English and Spanish colonies in 1600 displayed notable differences in population size, economic activities, indigenous relations, religious practices, colonial administration, and territorial claims. While the English colonies were establishing a foothold in North America, the Spanish had already established a vast and influential empire in the Americas.