noob questions about spain (americas)

[Romanman]

I've been playing for about 20 turns as the spanish in the americas campaign. im winning battles pretty easily sometimes the enemy is 3 times larger than me. but my main problems are cities, for some reason i can't build ports therefore i can't build barracks. i just got promoted to viscount so shouldn't i be able to get better colonies?

[Galerius Priscus]

To be able to build ports, you must be of a higher rank than Viscount.
That's all...

[Magno]

All it takes is a little patience.

[Xamt]

just make sure to complete any and all missions you get asap and you should have a really big advantage (king sends you troops and cash and lets u train better units)

[Evolution]

The more missions you complete for the man who is 1000's of miles away the faster you get promoted.

Also making America Catholic helps alot.