Spanish Main

historical region, South America and Caribbean Sea

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Article History

Spanish Main, Northern coast of South America. The term refers to an area that was once under Spanish control and spanned roughly between the Isthmus of Panama and the delta of the Orinoco River. The term can also refer to the Caribbean Sea and adjacent waters, especially when referring to the period when the region was troubled by pirates.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Maren Goldberg.