The Spanish West Indies refers to a group of islands in the Caribbean that were once under Spanish colonial rule. This region primarily includes the islands of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. These territories played a significant role in the Spanish Empire, serving as important trade and military outposts from the 15th century onward. During the colonial period, the Spanish West Indies were known for their sugar plantations and the transatlantic slave trade. The islands were also sites of cultural exchange, blending Indigenous, African, and European influences, which shaped the unique identities of the people living there today.