The Spanish Conquest and the Columbian Exchange

Spanish Conquest: A series of military campaigns initiated by Spanish explorers and conquistadors in the 16th century aimed at the colonization of the Americas.

Advantages of the Columbian Exchange:
- Led to less food insecurity and greater nutrition among various populations.
- Significantly improved the lives and livelihoods of many people, particularly in Europe and the Americas.
- Contributed positively to the European economy, increasing wealth and trade opportunities.
Downsides of the Columbian Exchange:
- Increased demands for goods contributed to a demand for slaves, which had profound ethical and moral implications.

Las Casas:
- A Dominican priest who was highly critical of the treatment of indigenous peoples.
- Actively protested against the enslavement and mistreatment of native populations.
- Achieved some recognition in advocating against slavery, leading to a papal decree in 1538 which outlawed the enslavement of indigenous people.
Las Casas' Contradictory Position:
- In an effort to prevent further exploitation of indigenous people, he controversially suggested that importing African slaves could fulfill labor demands in the Caribbean.

Conditions endured by enslaved Africans:
- Captives were forcibly marched to the coast in shackles.
- The environment in slave ships was horrific; enslaved people were packed tightly into confined spaces.
- They experienced a grueling month-long journey across the Atlantic.
- Upon surviving the journey, they were subjected to forced labor primarily on sugar plantations.
- The average lifespan of enslaved individuals post-capture was shockingly low, ranging from 4 to 7 years due to the harsh conditions.
- Approximately 12 million people were taken to the New World through this brutal process.
- Slavery was supported by a widespread systemic complicity, with many individuals not witnessing its direct consequences, thus perpetuating the institution.

Achievements:
- Notably credited with the conquest of the Aztec Empire, which paved the way for Spanish control over present-day Mexico.
- Overthrew the Aztec Empire with a relatively small contingent of Spanish soldiers.
- His conquest was often portrayed as evidence of European superiority.
- Cortes was romanticized in history, viewed as a symbol of expanding European power.
Historical Corrections:
- It is essential to note that not all indigenous groups supported Montezuma, the Aztec leader.
- The success of Cortes was not solely due to his forces, but also involved alliances with indigenous tribes such as the Mayans.
- The arrival of smallpox decimated the Aztec population, significantly contributing to the empire's fall.
- Conclusion: The defeat of the Aztec Empire cannot be attributed to Cortes and his men alone; multiple factors including disease and native alliances played crucial roles.

Both figures wrote detailed accounts of their journeys, which received a substantial readership across Europe.
They both created narratives portraying themselves as superior to native populations, who they labeled as uncivilized.
Both claimed divine support for their endeavors, using the spread of Christianity as a justification for their actions.
Their motivations were heavily influenced by greed, as both sought significant wealth.
Both committed exploitation and mistreatment of native peoples in their pursuits.
For centuries, they were idolized in historical accounts, complicating their leg