Quote: "Conquistadors were the explorer-soldiers of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires of the 15th and 16th centuries."
Spanish soldiers and explorers who conquered Native American civilizations in the Americas, often using force and violence.
European Exploration of the Americas: The period of European exploration of the Americas, which led to the eventual colonization of these areas by European powers.
The Spanish Empire: The Spanish Empire that was established as a result of the Spanish conquests in the Americas, including the conquests of Mayan, Incan, and Aztec empires.
Conquistadors: The conquistadors were the Spanish soldiers and adventurers who led the conquests of the Americas, including figures such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro.
Explorations of Cortés: Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who is best known for leading the conquest of the Aztec empire in Mexico.
Explorations of Pizarro: Francisco Pizarro was a Spanish conquistador who is best known for leading the conquest of the Inca empire in Peru.
Native American civilizations: The Native American civilizations that existed in the Americas prior to the arrival of Europeans.
Disease and the Conquest: Diseases brought by the Europeans played a critical role in the conquest of the Americas.
Interactions between Natives and Conquistadors: The interaction between the Native Americans and the conquistadors, including conflicts and alliances.
Slavery and the Conquest: The enslavement of Native Americans and the importation of African slaves into the Americas.
The Columbian Exchange: The exchange of goods, ideas, and people between the Old and New Worlds as a result of the Age of Exploration.
Colonialism and Imperialism: The Spanish Empire's colonization and control of the Americas was part of a larger trend of European colonialism and imperialism.
The Black Legend: The negative view of the Spanish Empire and its treatment of Native Americans that became popular in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
Legacies of the Conquest: The lasting impact of the Spanish conquests in the Americas, including the annihilation of indigenous cultures and the creation of a new mixed-race society.
Quote: "They sailed beyond Europe to the Americas, Oceania, Africa, and Asia, colonizing and opening trade routes."
Quote: "The Spanish began building an American empire in the Caribbean using islands such as Hispaniola, Cuba, and Puerto Rico as bases."
Quote: "Hernán Cortés waged a campaign against the Aztec Empire, ruled by Moctezuma II."
Quote: "From the territories of the Aztec Empire, conquistadors expanded Spanish rule to northern Central America and parts of what is now the southern and western United States."
Quote: "As Francisco Pizarro subdued the empire, in a manner similar to Cortés, other conquistadores used Peru as a base for conquering much of Ecuador and Chile."
Quote: "Central Colombia, home of the Muisca was conquered by licentiate Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, and its northern regions were explored by Rodrigo de Bastidas, Alonso de Ojeda, Juan de la Cosa, Pedro de Heredia, and others."
Quote: "Conquistadors from Peru combined parties with other conquistadors arriving more directly from the Caribbean and Río de la Plata-Paraguay respectively."
Quote: "Spanish conquistadors also made significant explorations into the Amazon Jungle, Patagonia, the interior of North America, and the discovery and exploration of the Pacific Ocean."
Quote: "Conquistadors founded numerous cities, some of them in locations with pre-existing settlements, such as Cusco and Mexico City."
Quote: "Conquistadors in the service of the Portuguese Crown led numerous conquests for the Portuguese Empire across South America and Africa, as well as commercial colonies in Asia."
Quote: "Notable Portuguese conquistadors include Afonso de Albuquerque who led conquests across India, the Persian Gulf, the East Indies, and East Africa."
Quote: "Filipe de Brito e Nicote led conquests into Burma."
Quote: "They brought much of the Americas under the dominion of Spain and Portugal."
Quote: "After arrival in the West Indies in 1492..."
Quote: "Conquistadors were the explorer-soldiers of the Spanish and Portuguese Empires..."
Quote: "The Spanish, usually led by hidalgos from the west and south of Spain, began building an American empire in the Caribbean..."
Quote: "From the territories of the Aztec Empire, conquistadors expanded Spanish rule..."
Quote: "From Mexico sailing the Pacific Ocean to the Spanish East Indies."
Quote: "All these conquests founded the basis for modern Hispanic America and the Hispanosphere."