What did the Spanish conquer in the Americas?

What did the Spanish conquer in the Americas?

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 factors led to the Spanish conquests in the Americas?

What Were the Most Important Factors in Explaining the Spanish Victory Over the Aztecs & Incas?

• Superior Weapons. Spanish weaponry was far superior to anything used by the Aztecs or Incas.
• Alliances and Experience.
• The Power of Horses.
• Deadly Disease.

Which 2 Empires did the Spanish conquer?

In the 16th century, it conquered and incorporated the Aztec (1519–1521) and Inca (1532–1572) empires, retaining indigenous elites loyal to the Spanish crown and converts to Christianity as intermediaries between their communities and royal government.

How and why did the Spanish conquer the Americas?

In 1519, two powerful empires – Spain and Mexica (Aztec) – were hungry for expansion in central Mexico. Then the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés led an attack on the Mexica empire. Although the Spaniards had horses and guns, both unknown in the Americas, the Mexica outnumbered them five hundred to one.

Why did Spain not colonize North America?

Spain grew rich from the gold and silver it found after conquering native civilizations in Mexico and South America. However, conflict with Indians and the failure to find major silver or gold deposits made it difficult to persuade settlers to colonize there.

Why did Spain lose power?

Many different factors, including the decentralized political nature of Spain, inefficient taxation, a succession of weak kings, power struggles in the Spanish court and a tendency to focus on the American colonies instead of Spain’s domestic economy, all contributed to the decline of the Habsburg rule of Spain.

What role did Spain play in the colonization of North America?

Spain extended its reach in the Americas after reaping the benefits of its colonies in Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America. Expeditions slowly began combing the continent and bringing Europeans into the modern-day United States in the hopes of establishing religious and economic dominance in a new territory.