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Conquistadors. Spanish Empire. By 1600’s Spanish Empire included North and South America and islands of the West Indies Two Main Goals in the Americas Acquire wealth and land Convert Native Americans to Christianity. Spain.
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Spanish Empire • By 1600’s Spanish Empire included North and South America and islands of the West Indies • Two Main Goals in the Americas • Acquire wealth and land • Convert Native Americans to Christianity
Spain • Prior to the Spanish conquests, the Aztec and Inca civilizations had established sophisticated cultures • Conquistadors (conquerors): • Hernando Cortez • 1519-1521 conquered Aztec civilization in Mexico • Francisco Pizarro • 1520’s invaded and conquered Inca Empire in Peru
Spanish Empire • European diseases were the biggest killer of indigenous (native) populations in the Americas • despite large populations, native people were conquered due to: • Disease • Technology (weapons)
Spanish Empire • The Spanish est. a rigid class system in the Americas • Only those born in Spain (peninsulars) could rule • Followed by their children, born in the New World (creoles) • No one else was allowed to participate in government peninsulars creoles Mestizos, Indians, Africans