# Audiencia — WHE Definition Discussion

**URL:** <https://community.worldhistory.org/t/audiencia-whe-definition-discussion/10930>\
**Category:** WHE Articles\
**Created:** [June 9, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/audiencia-whe-definition-discussion/10930 "2022-06-09T16:00:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![markzcartwright](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/markzcartwright/32/35_2.png) [@markzcartwright](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/markzcartwright)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2022, 4:00pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/audiencia-whe-definition-discussion/10930/1 "2022-06-09T16:00:01Z")

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An _audiencia_ began as a judicial institution in medieval Spain, but in the 16th century, it was applied as the highest form of local government in key cities of the Spanish Empire. An _audiencia_ had a panel of judges made responsible for the political administration of a city and certain criminal and civil legal matters concerning both settlers and indigenous peoples.

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_This is a companion discussion topic for the original content at [https://www.worldhistory.org/Audiencia/](https://www.worldhistory.org/Audiencia/)._

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**Author:** ![markzcartwright](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/community.worldhistory.org/markzcartwright/32/35_2.png) [@markzcartwright](https://community.worldhistory.org/u/markzcartwright)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 3:58pm UTC](https://community.worldhistory.org/t/audiencia-whe-definition-discussion/10930/2 "2026-07-29T15:58:52Z")

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Unlisted on July 29, 2026, 3:58pm UTC