History Of The Spanish Conquistadors

During the time frame of 1450-1750, the Columbian Exchange was at its height of power and influence. Many products were introduced from foreign lands, like animals such as cattle, chickens, and horse, and agriculture such as potatoes, bananas, and avocados. Diseases also became widespread and persisted to distant lands where it wreaked devastation upon the non-immunized people. One such influential product during this time period was the cacao, or more commonly known as chocolate. First discovered and used in the Americas, cacao beans quickly traveled to and became a popular treat in European lands. It was valuable in the New World and even used as a currency by the Aztecs. Only the rich and privileged

Conquistadors descended on America with hopes of bringing Catholicism to new lands while extracting great riches. Religion and self-interest combined to create a potent mixture that drew hundreds of thousands of Spaniards across the ocean with hopes of finding riches and winning souls for God. Along with the Spaniards came diseases to which the New World natives had no immunities. What followed was one of the greatest tragedies in human history as smallpox, influenza, and other communicable diseases ravaged the native populations, killing millions. Spanish conquistadors, who were primarily poor nobles from the impoverished west and south of Spain, were able to conquer the huge empires of the New World with the help of superior military technology,

Cabeza de Vaca seemed to take on the role of leader and lead the men on a path, which he hoped would take them to Mexico. As the grandson of the conqueror of the Canary Islands and the treasurer of this expedition, he had to show his leadership and make a name for himself. He did so by ‘healing’ the natives. On the way to Mexico, Cabeza de Vaca saw that the only way for the natives to spare the men’s lives was to use his medical skills to astonish them. From then on, Cabeza de Vaca was seen as a healer and news of this traveled fast. On the rest of their journey, through southern America, the men have no problems with the natives, but were stopped to heal them. In addition to healing he used the tall tale of the Evil thing (la mal cosa) to convince the natives that the only way to ward off this evil, was to convert to Christianity. A peaceful conversion that other conquistadors and the King of Spain did not see as possible. Instead of conquering the natives and forcing them to change, Cabeza de Vaca gave them incentive to do this willingly. In the meanwhile, Cabeza de Vaca is keeping a journal. He writes abut their travels and hardships of traversing through deserts and northern Mexico. Food also became scarce during this time. The paper shell piñon, a nut, is native to northern Mexico and is only found in a specific place. It is believed that Cabeza de

A Spanish conquistador is that of a conqueror, and explorer, especially one of Mexico and Peru. The beginning of the 16th century was deemed the commencement of the Spanish conquistadors in which was named ‘The Age of Discovery’, where the conquistadors of places such as Spain and Portugal explored the new world and conquered various territories. Looking at military defenses, secrecy and disinformation, financing and governance, and their way of life people can begin to grasp a comprehension of the impact of the Spanish conquistadors. In searching for an understanding for the ways of the Spaniards and their conquests the lessons to be learnt for existing populations can be unraveled.

The Aztec-Spanish War was more than a war leading to the demise of the Aztec empire; rather it was one of the most remarkable and significant wars of European history, beginning the colonization of Mesoamerica. The Spaniards who came to the New World were known as conquistadors, Spanish for “conquerors”. Hernando Cortez, one of the most ambitious Spanish conquistadors, left Cuba in 1519 with 500 men, 11 ships, horses, and countless other provisions. The exploratory mission, supported by the governor of Cuba: Diego de Velásquez, soon turned into one of conquest. Driven by the pursuit of gold, glory and god, Cortez was determined to use any means necessary in his desire to conquer one of ancient history’s most prominent civilizations: The Aztecs.

What must have the native peoples, such as the Incas and Aztecs, thought when they saw white men arriving onto their land aboard massive ships? The Spanish conquistadores conquered many regions in the Americas for Spain. In the Spanish language, ?Conquista? means to conquer or a conquest, and ?Conquistadores? is referring to the conquerors, specifically from Spain. Latin America richness in culture and history is strongly associated with this Spanish presence (Davies 172). The Spanish conquistadores changed the Latin American people?s lives significantly, and the impact they left can still be appreciated today. Their influence has produced culturally benefitting results.

As people celebrate the Spanish conquistadors, you should not. The reasons are simple, the conquistadors killed the people who were in the Americas before they knew the Americas existed. They ruined their culture, brought diseases that wiped out entire cities, and killed them in ways that were humorous for some people, but was torture for other people. All of these reasons are why not to celebrate and cherish the Spanish conquistadors.

According to the Aztecs, thy just attacked out of nowhere. When the Conquistadores attacked, it was a sign for the Aztecs to fight as well and for surely they retaliated. Sadly, they were nowhere powerful enough to stop them with the Spanish’s weapon. The conquistadores waging war to the population of 5 million has been reduced to 200,000 because of the disease know as small box and also from the Conquistadors killing the Aztecs. The disease wiped out at least 25% of the population.

The Aztec tribute system, was scattered throughout central Mexico, in highly diverse environmental and cultural regions that were under the control of Aztecs. These controlled regions provided an imperial powers for the Aztecs as well as a regular flow of tribute goods. Tributes varied in many forms, including valuable textiles, and many different foods such as, maize, beans, chiles, cacao, honey, and most importantly war prisoners (US History.org Staff).

Nearly five hundred years ago Spanish Conquistadors began their conquest of the Americas. As history recounts, of all the Conquistadors Hernan Cortes was by far the most successful Spaniard in his pursuit to seize land, precious resources, and native peoples. Cortes’ search for wealth and glory is capped by his procurement and establishment of New Spain, forever implanting his legacy in the Spanish history of the exploration and conquest of the New World, as well as the indigenous history of the rapid destruction of the highly advanced, wealthy, and powerful Mexica Empire ruled by Moctezuma Xocoyotl. With this in mind, since the beginning of time, prevailing histories have leant towards the recorded narratives of the Victors, thus failing to

Before the Spanish arrived, the aztecs used a form of money called the Quachtli, or they bartered. Agriculture and farming were important for them, as they used their large lands to produce foods for the families, or they would set up markets to earn money for themselves. Due to the Spanish arriving, their land was removed from them and their currency was confiscated. The encomienda system was introduced giving the Aztec lands to the Spanish who arrived. They also introduced the haciendas which was where members of the Spanish were sent to the Americas to spread Catholicism in return for large lands. The haciendas were productive and the conquistadors gained wealth as the gold and silver mines made Spain the wealthiest in Europe. The Golds were very important to the Spanish as the Spanish described themselves as “Spaniards who suffer from a disease that only Gold can cure’. This is implying to us that Gold made them cruel and ruthless and that they are greedy, which is another reason in why the Spanish invaded. The Aztec and other conquered indigenous societies were forced to work as slave labourers for the landholders on their haciendas. The Aztecs and Incas were forced to build a new Spanish city on the site of Tenochtitlan Mexico City and many indigenous people were forced into labour mines or on new building programs while the Spanish introduced black

Xocolatl, the name which we have chosen for this piece, is a word Aztecs used to describe “bitter water”. Dating back to as 300 A.D cocoa beans were a symbol of life, fertility, and wealth. Cocoa beans were a form of currency; so in conclusion if one were to drink bitter water it was viewed as extravagant, quite literally having enough money to eat your wealth.

This essay focuses on how the Francisco Pizarro and his band of conquistadors was able to conquer the Inca Empire, specifically on how European diseases played a part in this conquest. The question being presented is: To what extent did European diseases assist the Spanish Empire’s conquest of the Inca Empire? From the moment that Pizarro set foot near Incan land to the moment when he had the Sapa Inca Atahualpa executed, around 90% of the Inca population was eradicated. The reason behind the majority of these deaths can be attributed to foreign illnesses, such as smallpox, measles, influenza, typhus, and the bubonic plague. In their quest to conquer the Inca Empire and take its riches, Francisco Pizarro and his group of men managed to eliminate

The history of potatoes started in South America spreading to Europe and adopted by different cultures around the word. It grew wild at the Andes Mountains. The Native Americans began cultivating it, and it became part of their believes. The conquistadors came and took it to Europe. It did not have a great impact at the beginning but as the time pass by it gain popularity. Ireland was one of the first countries to adopt it as a main product of their which later hurt them badly later on. During the later years other countries stated adopting and making it part of their culture, since it was cheap to grow.

They didn’t make M&Ms or Snickers bars, nor did they add milk or sugar to make the cacao taste sweeter. Chocolate was clearly a favorite of Maya royals and priests, commoners likely enjoyed the drink on at least some occasions, as well. “In the classic period, “chocolate drinks were known to be part of such banquets among the nobility” (Foster, 2005, p. 341). There have been many artifacts found that are covered with paintings of people together preparing and drinking cacao. Some items were discovered in the tombs of deceased rulers that were known to be used in cacao consumption. The Maya enjoyed chocolate so much that they grew the trees in their gardens closer to home so they didn’t have to travel out into the forests to gather the cacao beans. Maya groups living in the Yucatán, where the climate wouldn't support a tropical rainforest, apparently found ways to grow some cacao trees. Foreign goods enabled rulers to solidify their relationships with other powerful members of society through gifts such as chocolate beverages because they were a symbol of privilege (Foster, 2005, p.