20.1- Spanish Conquests in the Americas

1. 20.1- Spanish Conquests in the Americas World History

2. Columbus’ Voyage Paves the Way • First Encounters • On October 12, 1492 Christopher Columbus thought he reached the East Indies but according to scholars he reached an island in the Bahamas in the Caribbean Sea. • Whatever piece of land it was, Columbus claimed it for Spain • His main interest was gold and upon returning to Spain talked of the treasures he found and embarked on a second voyage • The Spanish intended to turn the islands into colonies which is land controlled by another nation. • Other explorers followed his lead…

3. Columbus’ Voyage Paves the Way • Other Explorers Take to the Seas • Many other explorers found the new land and it came to be known as the “new world”. • In 1519 Ferdinand Magellan led a bold exploration with 230 men, to the newly discovered ocean, funded by the kind of Spain • After months Magellan reached the Philippines and was killed in a war. His crew, now 18, continued sailing west and were the first to circumnavigate (sail around) the world

4. Spain Builds an American Empire • In the same year as Magellan, 1519, Hernando Cortes landed in Mexico and was headed to the American mainland • Cortes and other Spanish explorers were known as = conquistadors (conquerors)

5. Spain Builds an American Empire • Cortes Conquers the Aztecs • After landing in Mexico, Cortes heard of the vast and wealthy Aztec Empire • Cortes met the Aztec emperor, Montezuma II. Montezuma believed Cortes was an “armor-clad god”. • Cortes forced Aztecs to mine more gold and silver but the Aztecs rebelled. Eventually The Spaniards conquered the Aztecs with superior weaponry and the help of other native groups, and the diseases they spread.

6. Spain Builds an American Empire • Pizarro Subdues the Inca • Francisco Pizarro- conquered the Inca Empire after strangling the Inca King • Other Spanish explorers also conquered Maya and Guatemala

7. Spain Builds an American Empire • Spain’s Pattern of Conquest • Spaniards used the same techniques during the reconquista of Spain. They would live among cultures and impose their Spanish culture upon them • Most Spanish settlers were men (peninsulares) and therefore married native women. These couples would create mestizosmixed Spanish and Native Americans. • Spanish forced Native Americans to labor within the system known as encomienda. • Under this system natives farmed, ranched, or mined for Spanish landlords. • Many abused the natives and worked many laborers to death

8. Spain Builds and American Empire • The Portuguese in Brazil • Brazil was able to stay outside of Spanish control • In 1500 Portugal began settling Brazil’s costal region but found no gold or silver. So instead they began growing sugar, which was in high demand in Europe • Similar to the Spanish, Portuguese conquered Native Americans and inflicted thousands with disease and enslaved many.

9. Spain Expands its Influence • Conquistadors Push North • Spain chose to back a series of expeditions to the southwestern U.S., their first attempt at the American mainland • 1513- Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain • 1540- Francisco Vasquez de Cornado led an expedition through present-day Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. • He found little gold so instead they sent priests to explore and colonize the region.

10. Spain Expands its Influence • Opposition to Spanish Rule • These Spanish priests spread Christianity and pushed for better treatment of Native American laborers that emerged under the encomienda system • In 1542 the encomienda system was abolished and some, such as Las Casas, suggested the use of Africans.

11. Spain Expands its Influence • Native Resistance • Opposition against the Spanish came from the priests and Natives themselves • From 1680 to 1692 the southwest region of the future U.S. belonged to its original inhabitants.