After Columbus, the Spanish colonization of the Americas was led by a series of soldier-explorers, called
conquistadors
. The Spanish forces, in addition to significant armament and equestrian advantages, exploited the rivalries between competing indigenous peoples, tribes, and nations.
What was the purpose of the Spanish expedition?
Only late in the 15th century did an emerging modern Spain become fully committed to
the search for new trade routes overseas
. In 1492, Christopher Columbus’s expedition was funded in the hope of bypassing Portugal’s monopoly on west African sea routes, to reach “the Indies.”
Who did the Spanish expedition?
For the conquest era, two names of Spaniards are generally known because they led the conquests of high indigenous civilizations, Hernán Cortés, leader of the expedition that conquered the Aztecs of Central Mexico, and
Francisco Pizarro
, leader of the conquest of the Inca in Peru.
What happened during the Spanish exploration?
After Columbus opened the way into the New World, the Spanish
moved into Peru and Mexico
, where they conquered wealthy native civilizations. Then in the 1530s they began exploring the southeastern and southwestern regions of North America in hopes of finding more treasure.
What did the Spanish explore?
The Spanish conquistadors invaded
areas of Central and South America looking
for riches, ultimately destroying the powerful Aztec and Inca cultures.
What were three outcomes of Spanish exploration?
Europeans
gained new materials like gold, silver, and jewels
. The Europeans enslaved the Native Americans and took most of them back to Europe. The explorers also gained new foods like corn and pineapple. Columbus also discovered tobacco seeds and brought the seeds back to Europe.
What did the Spanish think of the Aztecs?
The Spanish seemed to have somewhat mixed feelings about the Aztecs. They were awe inspired by the Aztec magnificent capital city,
Tenochtitlan
…
How did Spain lose America?
Spain lost her possessions on the mainland of America
with the independence movements of the early 19th century
, during the power vacuum of the Peninsula War. … At the end of the century most of the remaining Spanish Empire ( Cuba, Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam ) was lost in the Spanish American War in 1898.
Who first stepped on American soil?
Half a millennium before Columbus “discovered” America, those Viking feet may have been the first European ones to ever have touched North American soil. Exploration was a family business for the expedition’s leader,
Leif Eriksson
(variations of his last name include Erickson, Ericson, Erikson, Ericsson and Eiriksson).
Who was the first conquistador in America?
Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca
When Cabeza de Vaca joined fellow Spanish explorer Pánfilo de Narváez on an expedition to conquer and colonize the North American Gulf Coast in 1528, he began a journey that would take more than eight years to complete.
What were the primary goals of Spanish exploration?
Motivations for colonization: Spain’s colonization goals were
to extract gold and silver from the Americas
, to stimulate the Spanish economy and make Spain a more powerful country. Spain also aimed to convert Native Americans to Christianity.
Why did Spain colonize Mexico?
Spain’s purposes to colonize Mexico and the other colonies were
getting new land, resources, and to spread Christianity
. As they conquered Mexico, they got new land. Spain plundered lots of resources from their colonies, opened up trade and get profits and spread Christianity.
Why were Spanish explorers called conquistadors?
The Spanish Conquistadors were some of the first men to travel to the new world. They got their name from
being both conquerors and explorers
. … He was responsible for conquering the Aztec Empire and claiming Mexico for Spain. In 1519 he took a fleet of ships from Cuba to the Yucatan Peninsula.
What was the biggest factor in Spanish victory?
- Superior Weapons. Spanish weaponry was far superior to anything used by the Aztecs or Incas. …
- Alliances and Experience. …
- The Power of Horses. …
- Deadly Disease.
Why was there conflict between the Spanish and the Incas?
The Spanish conquistador Pizarro and his men were greatly aided in their enterprise by invading when
the Inca Empire was in the midst of a war of succession between the princes Huáscar and Atahualpa
. … The resulting dispute led to the Inca Civil War.
What were two main reasons why many people from Spain came to the Americas?
Spain colonized America because they were searching for gold and silver
. They did find a lot of gold and silver when they conquered the Aztec and Inca Empires. France colonized North America because of the great amount of furs they found there.
