Spanish Conquests in the Americas Flashcards

What were the conquistadors primarily driven by?

Where were the first Spanish colonies located in the New World?

For what primary purpose did the Spanish enslave many American Indians?

In the first Spanish colonies, how did nearly all American Indians die?

What was the encomienda system?

Why did the Spanish government establish the encomienda system in the Spanish colonies?

What is the correct order of the Spanish class system from greatest privileges to fewest?

Why did Spain create missions in the colonies?

Which Spanish class included Spanish colonists born in the Americas?

Who ruled over the Aztecs near the beginning of the sixteenth century?

Which leader was imprisoned by Cortés?

Moctezuma II invited Cortés into the city of Tenochtitlán.

Who was the leader of the Inca Empire?

The Aztecs controlled the most powerful empire in?

How was the Inca Empire impacted by European exploration and colonization?

What was the most significant result of the Spanish colonization of Central and South America?

Spanish Conquests in the Americas

Conquistadors were primarily motivated by the pursuit of gold.
The earliest Spanish colonies were established in the West Indies.
American Indians were enslaved primarily to work in mines and cultivate sugarcane.
A significant number of American Indians perished due to diseases brought by Europeans.
The encomienda system functioned as a form of slavery, preventing the sale of enslaved individuals off the land.
Spain established the encomienda system to ensure a steady labor supply for its colonies.
The Spanish class system, from highest to lowest privileges, comprised peninsulares, criollos, mestizos, Indians, and enslaved persons.
Spanish missions were created in the colonies with the goal of assimilating American Indians into Spanish culture.
Criollos referred to Spanish colonists who were born in the Americas.
Moctezuma II was the king of the Aztecs at the start of the 16th century.
Cortés imprisoned Moctezuma II during his campaign against the Aztecs.
Moctezuma II welcomed Cortés into Tenochtitlán, which was pivotal in the Spanish conquest.
Atahualpa was the leader of the Inca Empire during Spanish colonization.
The Aztec Empire is recognized as the most powerful empire in Mexico before Spanish conquest.
European exploration and colonization compelled the Inca to adopt Spanish language, religion, and lifestyle.
The most significant outcome of Spanish colonization in Central and South America was the immense wealth Spain gained through plundering these territories.

Test your knowledge of the Spanish conquests in the Americas with these flashcards. Covering key topics such as the motivations behind explorations, the location of Spanish colonies, and the treatment of American Indians, this quiz offers a comprehensive review of significant historical events and practices. Perfect for students studying early American history or colonialism.