Table of Contents
Who were the conquistadors in the 16th century?
The two most famous conquistadors were Hernán Cortés who conquered the Aztec Empire and Francisco Pizarro who led the conquest of the Incan Empire. They were second cousins born in Extremadura, where many of the Spanish conquerors were born.
What is the name of the early 16th century Spanish conquistador?
Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés (c. 1485-1547) is best known for conquering the Aztecs and claiming Mexico on behalf of Spain. Cortés (full name Don Hernán Cortés de Monroy y Pizarro Altamirano, Marquis of the Valley of Oaxaca) first served as a soldier in an expedition of Cuba led by Diego Velázquez in 1511.
Who did Spain conquer in the 16th century?
In the 16th century, it conquered and incorporated the Aztec (1519–1521) and Inca (1532–1572) empires, retaining indigenous elites loyal to the Spanish crown and converts to Christianity as intermediaries between their communities and royal government.
How many Spanish conquistadors were there?
The fascinating military encounter in itself pitched around 168 Conquistadors (who only 12 arquebuses and 4 cannons among them) under Francisco Pizarro’s command, against 3,000 to 8,000 lightly armed guards of the Inca Emperor Atahualpa.
Was Magellan a conquistador?
No, Ferdinand Magellan wasn’t a conquistador, but you need to understand how historians and people in general use that word.
Why was Spain so powerful in the 16th century?
Spain rose to a position of power in the sixteenth century due to the consolidation of the two largest Spanish kingdoms, Aragon and Castile, in 1492, along with the conquest of Granada that same year. Vast wealth from the Americas poured into Spain.
What Amerigo Vespucci did?
Vespucci was the first person to recognize North and South America as distinct continents that were previously unknown to Europeans, Asians and Africans. Prior to Vespucci’s discovery, explorers, including Columbus, had assumed that the New World was part of Asia.
Was Columbus an explorer or conquistador?
Christopher Columbus was not a conquistador. He developed the sailing route that led to the “discovery” of the West Indies in the…