Spanish Conquistadors and Explorers

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Study Notes

The Spanish conquistadors made trips to seek new land for Spain, leading to the discovery of new territories and people, which were then placed under Spanish rule.

Born in 1451 in Genoa, Italy
One of the first explorers to believe the Earth was round, not flat
Believed sailing west from Europe would lead to landing in Asia (China and India), which was significant for trade in spices and tea
Sought sponsorship from European countries, but only Spain agreed to support him
Led expeditions to the Caribbean and parts of South America

Funded by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain with three ships: Santa Maria, Pinta, and Niña
He landed on an island in the Bahamas, which he named San Salvador, believing he had reached the East Indies
This mistake led to the term "Indians" being used to describe the indigenous people
Columbus made three more voyages to the Americas, exploring the Caribbean and the coast of South America
He established the first European settlement in the New World, La Navidad, in Hispaniola (present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic)

Led a small army of conquistadors to Mexico in 1519
Formed alliances with local tribes and used them to conquer the Aztec Empire
Captured the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlán (modern-day Mexico City), in 1521
Consequences of the conquest include widespread destruction and killing of indigenous populations
Introduction of European diseases, which decimated native populations
Enslavement and forced labor of indigenous peoples

Flourished in central Mexico from the 14th to the 16th century
Built a complex and organized society with a strong political and economic system
Developed a sophisticated system of writing, astronomy, and engineering