Spain and the New World - key topic 2

Who was Vasco Núñez de Balboa and what did he do in 1513?

Balboa was a Spanish explorer who crossed Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific from the New World, claiming it for Spain.

What was the significance of Balboa’s claim to the Pacific Ocean in 1513?

It expanded Spanish territorial claims and encouraged further westward exploration and colonisation along the Pacific coast.

How did the conquest of Cuba contribute to Spain’s empire-building?

Cuba became a key base for future expeditions like Cortés’s to Mexico and helped Spain secure control of the Caribbean.

What was Hernán Cortés’s background before his 1519 expedition?

Cortés was a Spanish nobleman and colonial administrator in Cuba who defied orders to lead an unauthorised expedition to Mexico.

Why was Cortés’s expedition to Mexico in 1519 so significant?

It led to the conquest of the Aztec Empire and the founding of New Spain—Spain's first major mainland colony in the Americas.

How did Cortés manage to defeat the powerful Aztec Empire?

He used advanced weapons, Indigenous alliances (e.g. Tlaxcalans), deception, and the spread of smallpox, which weakened the Aztecs.

What role did the Tlaxcalans play in the Spanish conquest of Mexico?

They were crucial Indigenous allies of the Spanish, providing thousands of warriors to help defeat the Aztecs.

What was ‘La Noche Triste’ and what impact did it have?

On 30 June 1520, the Aztecs drove out the Spanish, killing many. Cortés later regrouped and returned to complete the conquest in 1521.

What were the consequences of the fall of Tenochtitlán in 1521?

The Aztec Empire collapsed; Spain built Mexico City, imposed colonial rule, and began large-scale exploitation of Indigenous peoples.

How was Cortés rewarded for his role in the conquest of Mexico?

He was named Governor and Captain-General of New Spain in 1523, though his power was later limited by the Spanish Crown.

How did Spanish rule impact the Aztec people and society after the conquest?

Aztec religion and governance were destroyed, people were enslaved or forced into labour, and millions died from disease and brutality.

What was the role of Panama in Spanish expansion after 1513?

Panama became a key base for exploring and conquering South America, especially in launching the Inca conquest.

How did the Spanish justify the conquest and violence they used?

They used religious arguments, claiming they were civilising and converting Indigenous people to Christianity through the “Requerimiento”.

What does this period reveal about the methods Spain used to expand its empire?

Spain used military strength, alliances, disease, religious justification, and brutal conquest to control Indigenous lands and people.