The Spanish Main was a name given to the Caribbean coast of the Spanish Empire in mainland Central and South America. From the 16th to the 18th century the Spanish Main was the point of departure for enormous wealth in the form of gold, silver, gems, spices, hardwoods, hides and other treasures. These were transported to Spain by the famous Spanish treasure fleets. The traffic in treasure made the Spanish Main a haunt of pirates and privateers.
