Spanish Conquest & Colonization - 06/13/25

Hernán Cortés

Spanish conquistador who met the Aztecs in Mexico in 1519 with 500 soldiers

Cortés and the Aztecs

Used advanced weapons to destroy the Aztec Empire

Francisco Pizarro

Spanish conquistador who met the Inca in South America

Pizarro and the Inca

After his men killed the Incan chief, he conquered the Inca Empire

Conquistadors

Spanish explorers sent to conquer land in the New World

Why conquistadors got rich

They kept 20% of any treasure they found

Encomienda system

A system where Native Americans were forced to work for the Spanish

Native labor

Natives worked under harsh conditions and were forced to convert to Christianity

Spanish conquest impact

Native civilizations were destroyed, cultures were replaced, and Spain gained wealth