Spanish Conquest in the Americas

1
Spanish Conquest in the Americas

• 20-1

2
Columbus

• 1492
• Find alternate trade route to Asia
• Desire of gold (found none)
• Landed in the Caribbean
• Formed colonies lands controlled by another
  nation

3
Other explorers

• Amerigo Vespucci (South America)
• Continent is named for him
• Magellan sailed Pacific ocean
• Reached Philippines and killed
• 18 of 230 men survived trip
• First persons to sail around the world

4
Cortes (Lands in Mexico 1519)

• Conquistadors conquerors
• First European settlers in Americas
• Searching for gold and silver
• Montezuma (Aztec emperor) gave gold
• Conquered Aztecs in 1521
• Superior weapons, help from natives who resented
  Aztecs, disease

5
Pizarro

• Conquered the Inca Empire
• Others would follow
• Spain creates an American empire
• New Spain (Mexico and Guatemala), Central, South
  America, Caribbean

6
Brazil

• Portugal claims in 1500
• Little gold or silver (start growing sugar)
• Portugal defeats Native Americans, spread
  disease, enslaved many

7
Spain Expands

• Richest and most powerful in 1500s
• Builds military to protect ships (full of gold)
• Begin to settle in U.S.
• Priest come to convert people
• Help spread Catholic religion

8
Opposition

• Priest push for better treatment of Native Am.
• Against encomienda system (abolished in 1542)
• Natives too opposed Spanish with revolts
• Fought till the end of the 17th century