This thesis deals with the impact that Spanish colonization had on archives in the colonized territories of Central and South America, the Philippines and Equatorial Guinea. A general historical overview of the Spanish colonization of the mentioned areas is given to explain the contextual background necessary for understanding the origin, content, and significance of the archives that were developed under circumstances characterized by hostile relations between the natives and the colonizers. The archive's role as a place of accumulation of materials that influences the perception of society is observed. The thesis analyzes the most prominent archives in the colonies and Spain, which reveal colonial and postcolonial practices and characteristics. Postcolonization is the tendency in archives to establish a balance between the needs of indigenous societies and their rights to fair representation in archives and the colonial influences that had a significant impact on the population at the time. Accordingly, a modern perspective is shown, as well as the request to have archival material without the prejudices of colonizing times.