The conquistadors, primarily led by Spanish explorers like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro, conquered Central and South America during the 16th century. They defeated various indigenous civilizations like the Aztecs and Incas, establishing Spanish dominance in the region.
Complete answer
During the 16th century, the Central and South American regions were conquered by the conquistadors, primarily led by Spanish explorers such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro. Their expeditions resulted in the defeat of various indigenous civilizations, most notably the Aztecs and Incas, leading to the establishment of Spanish dominance in the region.
Hernán Cortés, in particular, played a pivotal role in the conquest of Central America. In 1519, he embarked on an expedition to Mexico with a small army. His encounter with the Aztec Empire, led by Emperor Moctezuma II, culminated in the fall of their capital, Tenochtitlan, in 1521. Cortés’ victory over the Aztecs is considered a turning point in history. As Bernal Díaz del Castillo, a conquistador who participated in the campaign, writes, “We came with the sole purpose of taking the great treasure that they possessed, and to subdue the people.”
Francisco Pizarro, another Spanish conquistador, ventured into South America and conquered the Inca Empire. In 1531, Pizarro and his men captured the Inca emperor, Atahualpa, which eventually led to the downfall of the Inca civilization. Pizarro’s ruthless tactics and the superior weapons of the Spanish played a significant role in their conquest. The conquistadors’ conquest was driven by a desire for wealth and power, as well as a quest for spreading Christianity.
Interesting Facts:
- Hernán Cortés and his troops faced numerous challenges during the conquest of Mexico, including resistance from the Aztecs, disease outbreaks, and rival conquistadors vying for power and riches.
- Montezuma II, the Aztec emperor, originally greeted Cortés as a god due to the Aztec’s belief in the return of their deity Quetzalcoatl, contributing to the initial success of the Spanish.
- The fall of the Aztec and Inca civilizations led to the exploitation and colonization of the region by the Spanish, resulting in substantial cultural changes and the introduction of European influences.
- The conquistadors’ conquests brought enormous wealth to the Spanish crown through the acquisition of gold, silver, and other valuable resources from Central and South America.
- The indigenous populations suffered greatly during the conquest, with the introduction of diseases, forced labor, and systematic oppression leading to significant population declines.
Table:
| Spanish Conquistadors | Indigenous Civilizations Conquered | Main Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| Hernán Cortés | Aztecs | Conquest of Mexico, Fall of Tenochtitlan |
| Francisco Pizarro | Incas | Conquest of the Inca Empire, Capture of Atahualpa |
More answers to your inquiry
From about 1513 to 1540, the conquistadores and their armies swept across Central and South America, establishing a wealthy empire for Spain. Vasco Núñez de Balboa reached the Pacific Ocean in 1513 and claimed it and all the lands touching it for Spain.
Spain claimed and settled Mexico, most of Central and South America, several islands in the Caribbean, and what are now Florida, California, and the Southwest region of the United States.
In the 1500s, Spain systematically conquered parts of North, Central and South America as well as the Caribbean.
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This video provides a comprehensive overview of the history of Central America. It begins with the arrival of Europeans and the Spanish conquest, leading to the establishment of the Audiencia of Guatemala. Central America gained independence in 1821 but struggled to unify and faced internal conflicts, resulting in the dissolution of the Federal Republic of Central America. The history of Belize and Panama differs from the rest of Central America, with Belize becoming a British Crown Colony and Panama playing a significant role in the Spanish Empire before the building of the Panama Canal by the United States. The video also discusses the territorial disputes between Guatemala and Belize, ultimately resolved through legal means, and highlights the challenges faced by Central America today, including poverty and violence.
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One may also ask, Who conquered much of Central and South America? Answer will be: The Spanish Empire would expand across the Caribbean Islands, half of South America, almost all of Central America and most of North America.
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Who conquered Central America?
While Pedrarias and Córdoba conquered lower Central America, the conqueror of Mexico, Hernán Cortés, looked southward. In 1524 he sent Cristóbal de Olid by sea to Honduras and Pedro de Alvarado overland to conquer Guatemala.
Who conquered South America?
Answer to this: The two most famous conquistadors were Hernán Cortés who conquered the Aztec Empire and Francisco Pizarro who led the conquest of the Inca Empire. They were second cousins born in Extremadura, where many of the Spanish conquerors were born.
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Who conquered Central and South America during the age of exploration? Response will be: the Spaniards
Early in the sixteenth century, the Spaniards conquered three major civilizations in Central and South America, and in the process unleashed a devastating biological exchange that killed an estimated 95 percent of the area’s inhabitants between 1492 and 1650.
Why did the Spanish conquer South America?
Spanish conquistadors had better success in South America, where they conquered the Aztec and Inca Empires and claimed the land for Spain. Spain soon grew rich from ample deposits of gold and silver in Mexico, Central America, and South America. In addition to the quest for gold, however, Spain sought to spread Christianity.
Where did the Spanish Empire expand?
The Spanish Empire would expand across the Caribbean Islands, half of South America, almost all of Central America and most of North America.
Subsequently, Who conquered central Mexico?
In reply to that: Records of the conquest of central Mexico include accounts by the expedition leader Hernán Cortés, Bernal Díaz del Castillo and other Spanish conquistadors, indigenous allies from the city-states altepetl of Tlaxcala, Texcoco, and Huexotzinco.
Which countries occupied Mexico and South America?
Spain claimed and settled Mexico, most of Central and South America, several islands in the Caribbean, and what are now Florida, California, and the Southwest region of the United States. Portugal gained control of Brazil. Today, the region encompassing Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean islands is known as .
Beside this, Where did the Spanish Empire expand? Answer to this: The Spanish Empire would expand across the Caribbean Islands, half of South America, almost all of Central America and most of North America.
Besides, Who conquered central Mexico?
The reply will be: Records of the conquest of central Mexico include accounts by the expedition leader Hernán Cortés, Bernal Díaz del Castillo and other Spanish conquistadors, indigenous allies from the city-states altepetl of Tlaxcala, Texcoco, and Huexotzinco.
Furthermore, How did the Spanish liberate South America?
As an answer to this: The movements that liberated Spanish South America arose from opposite ends of the continent. From the north came the movement led most famously by Simón Bolívar, a dynamic figure known as the Liberator. From the south proceeded another powerful force, this one directed by the more circumspect José de San Martín.
Who ruled South America in 1598?
As a response to this: The Iberian Union in 1598, under Philip II, King of Spain and Portugal Beginning in 1499, the people and natural resources of South America were repeatedly exploited by foreign conquistadors, first from Spain and later from Portugal. These competing colonial nations claimed the land and resources as their own and divided it into colonies.