Table of Contents
What advantages did the Spanish conquistadors have over the natives?
The encomienda system gave settlers the right to tax local Native Americans or to make them work. In exchange, these settlers were supposed to protect the Native American people and convert them to Christianity.
Who claimed land in the New World for Spain?
Explorer Christopher Columbus
Explorer Christopher Columbus sets foot on the American mainland for the first time, at the Paria Peninsula in present-day Venezuela. Thinking it an island, he christened it Isla Santa and claimed it for Spain. Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451.
How did the Spanish take over the Aztecs?
Spanish conquistadores commanded by Hernán Cortés allied with local tribes to conquer the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán. Cortés’s army besieged Tenochtitlán for 93 days, and a combination of superior weaponry and a devastating smallpox outbreak enabled the Spanish to conquer the city.
Who were two famous conquistadors and who did they conquer?
The two most famous conquistadors were Hernán Cortés who conquered the Aztec Empire and Francisco Pizarro who led the conquest of the Incan Empire. They were second cousins born in Extremadura, where many of the Spanish conquerors were born.
Who claimed the Pacific Ocean for Spain?
Conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa
Conquistador Vasco Núñez de Balboa claiming the Pacific Ocean for Spain in 1513.
Who was dominated by Portugal in the sixteenth century?
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal became a leading European power that ranked with England, France and Spain in terms of economic, political and cultural influence.
Who was the leader of the conquistadors?
Hernán Cortés
The two most famous conquistadors were Hernán Cortés who conquered the Aztec Empire and Francisco Pizarro who led the conquest of the Incan Empire. They were second cousins born in Extremadura, where many of the Spanish conquerors were born.