16 - Spanish Conquest (abridged)

Ferdinand of Aragon

(r. 1479-1516) along with Isabella of Castile, monarch of largest Christian kingdoms in Iberia; marriage to Isabella created united Spain; responsible for reconquest of Granada, initiation of exploration of New World

Isabella of Castile

(r. 1474-1504) along with Ferdinand of Aragon, monarchy of largest Christian kingdoms in Iberia; marriage to Ferdinand created united Spain; responsible for reconquest of Granada, initiation of exploration of New World

conquistadors

soldiers and explorers who led expeditions into the Americas and captured land for Spain

Christopher Columbus

Italian captain in service of Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon; successfully sailed to New World in 1492; initiated European discoveries in the Americas

Hispaniola

first island in Caribbean settled by Spaniards; settlement founded by Columbus on second voyage to New World; Spanish base of operations for further discoveries in New World

Columbian Exchange

the transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and Europe, Asia, and Africa

smallpox

highly contagious viral disease characterized by fever, weakness, and skin eruption with pustules that form scabs; responsible for killing the majority of the 90-95% of the Native American population who died from Afro-Eurasian diseases

Bartolome de Las Casas

Dominican friar who protested Spanish atrocities against indigenous Native Americans and supported peaceful conversion; wrote A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1542)

Amerigo Vespucci

Italian navigator who mapped the coast of South America; North America and South America are named after

Ferdinand Magellan

(1480-1521) Spanish captain who initiated first circumnavigation of the globe (1519-1522); killed in the Philippines but his crew completed the voyage

Hernán Cortés

(1485-1547) led expedition of 600 to coast of Mexico in 1519; Spanish conquistador responsible for defeat of Aztec Empire; captured Tenochtitlan

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador who captured and ransomed Inca emperor Atahualpa prisoner; then executed him and took over the Inca empire

Luzon

northern island of Philippines; conquered by Spain during the 1560s; site of major Catholic missionary effort