Spanish Conquest
The Spanish Conquest refers to the period in the 16th century when Spanish explorers and soldiers invaded and colonized large parts of the Americas, particularly the Aztec and Inca empires. Figures like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro led these efforts, driven by the pursuit of wealth, land, and spreading Christianity. The conquest resulted in significant cultural, social, and political changes, including the decline of indigenous civilizations, the establishment of Spanish colonies, and the introduction of European diseases which devastated native populations. This period drastically reshaped both the Americas and Spain's global influence.
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The Spanish conquest refers to the period in the 16th century when Spanish explorers and soldiers, known as conquistadors, invaded and colonized major parts of the Americas, particularly the Aztec and Inca empires. Notable figures like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro led these efforts, using advanced weaponry, alliances with local tribes, and diseases that decimated indigenous populations. This conquest led to significant cultural, economic, and social changes, establishing Spanish colonial rule and influencing the history and demographics of the Americas, as well as the Spanish language and Catholicism’s spread in the region.