Columbus

voyages

made 3 voyages and was named military governor of the area

columbus as a ruler

very harsh and cruel
enslaved and killed many natives
killed settles for petty crimes
determined to convert all natives to christianity

triangle trade

europe, africa, and the americas
spices supplies animals and slaves
grew the mercantile/capitalist system throughout Europe

impact on the natives

diseases like smallpox killed 90% of the native communities
their crops were harvested by potatoes, corn, and topical fruits
sent them to europe
lost land
forced to convert to Christianity

matchlock muskets

one of the first functioning portable firearms
crude and slow, caused devastating wounds

Francisco Pizarro

they collected land and goods and fought with the native people
Francisco Pizarro led an expedition to capture and control the Inca empire
after massacring many of the Inca people in a battle, Pizarro captured the Incan leader, forced him to convert, and then executed him

Hernan Cortes

led an expedition to conquer the region and convert the native people
faced backlash from native peoples and forced to fight battles, especially against Aztec people
Cortez defeated the Aztecs, burend their city

Francisco de Montejo

led the first expedition to colonize the Yucatan Peninsula
hunted for precious metals
disease killed Mayan people
forced them to convert to Christianity
took Spanish 170 years to fully conquer all Mayan territories