Spain Builds an Empire

Spain Builds an Empire Vocabulary

Conquistador • Spanish conquerors who came to the Americas to conquer and get rich.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa • Spanish explorer who was the 1st European to reach the Pacific Ocean. • Landed on the isthmus of Panama

Ferdinand Magellan • Portuguese explorer sailed for Spain. • His crew sailed all the way around the world.

Montezuma • Aztec Emperor ruled over Mexico. • He was conquered by the Spanish Conquistador, Hernando Cortes.

Hernando Cortes • Spanish conquistador who held Montezuma prisoner. • He and his army took down the Aztec empire.

Francisco Pizarro • Another Spanish conquistador who captured the mighty Inca Empire in Peru.

Spanish Borderlands • Area of the Spanish Empire that spanned from Florida to California.

Laws of the Indies • The code of laws that stated how the Spanish colonies should be organized and ruled.

Pueblos • Towns in the Spanish empire that were centers of farming and trade.

Juan de Onate • Founded the colony of New Mexico. • Used brutal force to conquer the Native Americans of the region.

Presidios • Forts where soldiers lived in the Spanish empire. • 1st Presidio was built in 1565 in St. Augustine, Florida.

Missions • Religious settlements run by Catholic priests and friars. • Used to convert Native Americans.

Father Eusedbio Francisco Kino • Spanish priest went to present-day Arizona and set up missions in the area.

Peninsulares • Top of the social class in the Spanish colonies. • Held the biggest jobs in gov’t. • Owned huge tracts of land and gold/silver mines.

Creoles • Class below Peninsulares. • Born in Americas to Spanish parents. • Were wealthy and well-educated. • Also owned land

Mestizos • 3rd social class • People of mixed Spanish and Native American background. • Worked on farms owned by Peninsulares and Creoles.

Encomiendas • The right to demand labor or taxes from the Native Americans living on the land.

Spain Builds an Empire