Spanish Explorers

Spanish explorers were adventurers from Spain during the late 15th to early 17th centuries who sought new trade routes and territories. Prominent figures include Christopher Columbus, who discovered the Americas in 1492, and Hernán Cortés, who conquered the Aztec Empire. These explorers significantly expanded European knowledge of the world and facilitated Spain's vast colonial empire in the Americas. Their expeditions led to the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas, but also resulted in the exploitation and suffering of indigenous populations. Their legacy is complex, reflecting both discovery and the consequences of colonization.