Conquistadors

Conquistador

Explorers from Spain who wanted to take over and conquer parts of Latin America

Francisco Pizarro

•Conquistador who took over the Inca Empire

Inca Empire

•Group of native people who lived in the Andes mountains and were conquered by Pizarro

Hernan Cortes

•Conquistador who took over the Aztec Empire

Aztec Empire

•Group of native people who lived in present day Mexico and were conquered by Cortes

Reasons why the conquistadors took over so much of Latin America

• Natural Resources (Gold and Silver)• To become rich and powerful• For the Glory of Spain• To grab land for the Spanish Empire• To convert the Native people to

Christianity

European countries that established colonies in the Americas

• England

• France

• The Netherlands

• Portugal

• Spain

Ways the conquistadors harmed native American people

• Killing thousands in battle

• Enslaving the population to work

• Bringing diseases the Natives couldn’t fight off

Two native civilizations the Spanish wiped out

•Aztecs

•Incas

Advantages the Spanish had over native armies, despite being greatly

outnumbered

•Guns

•Steel swords

•Armor

•Horses

Lasting effects of Spanish conquest in Latin America

•Most people speak Spanish

•Most people are Roman Catholic (Christians)

Who

•Explorers from Spain who wanted to take over and conquer land in Latin America

What

•Killed thousands •Enslaved many•Brought diseases the Natives couldn’t fight off

When

•1500s

(16th Century)

Where

•Mexico-Aztecs

•Western South America (Andes Mountains)-Incas

Why

• Natural Resources

• Expand Spain’s empire

• Glory

• Spread Christianity

How

•Converted most people to Christianity

•People started speaking Spanish