Download Unit 2, Notes 1 Spanish Conquistadors Conquistador: Spanish word

Unit 2, Notes 1
Spanish Conquistadors
 Conquistador: Spanish word for “conqueror”; refers to the explorers/conquerors that searched
for gold and glory in the Americas and destroyed several Indians civilizations along the way
Reasons for European Exploration and Colonization of the Americas
► Three G’s
 Gold
► Obtain bullion (gold and silver)
► Export raw materials (timber, fur) and/or grow cash crops (tobacco, indigo) to make a
profit
 Glory
► Discover secrets of the “New World” (Fountain of Youth, Northwest Passage)
► Become the heroic conqueror of Indian civilizations
► Obtain a high-ranking government position of leadership in the colonies
 God
► Spread Christianity to the heathen natives (Spanish and French missions)
► Seek religious toleration and freedom from persecution (Pilgrims or Puritans)
Conquistadors
 Hernando Cortes (1485-1547)
 Traveled to Mexico where Aztecs civilization believed him to be Quetzalcoatl (kĕt-säl'kōät'l) , a returning Aztec god – this occurred after a small pox epidemic wiped out many
native Americans in Cuba – he also wanted to investigate reports of a wealthy
civilization there (Yucatan Peninsula) ….He was immediately attack but won, killing
over 200 NA’s and was given 20 NA women as a peace offering.
 Deceived and manipulated Aztec king Montezuma, who agreed to share the empire’s
gold supply – Montezuma tried to send a piece offering of human blood and to pay a
yearly tribute to Cortez if Cortez promised to halt the march. Cortez was horrified by
the blood so Montezuma planned an attack. Cortez found out about the attack and
struck first killing 6,000.
 Conquered Tenochititlan (tĕ-nōch'tē-tlän') (Aztec capital and modern day Mexico City)
and the Aztec civilization; obtained great riches – Cortez and his men were horrified by
what they saw in the city. The Aztec priest matted their hair down with human blood.
Skulls were found everywhere. They force the Aztecs to take down statues of gods
and replace them will crosses and images of the Virgin Mary. They also force them to
stop human sacrificing. Initially driven out of T but built boats to attack by water,
while at the same time that a small box epidemic occurred in the city. When he
finally attacked the city was easily taken.
Conquistadors, continued…
 Francisco Pizarro (1478-1541)
 Traveled down the west coast of South America in search of gold – Modern day Peru


Conquered the Inca civilization (led by Atahualpa) and discovered great riches – This is
what was in the movie. Pizarro hid his cavalry and cannons. He intended to
kidnapped Atahualpa. Pizarro sent a priest. Blah blah blah.
Hernando de Soto (1500-1542)
 Fought under Pizarro during the Spanish conquest of South America
 Led an expedition into the southeastern part of North America and discovered the
modern states of Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas
 First European to discover the Mississippi River
 Died of fever and was buried in the Mississippi River.
Conquistadors, Continued…
 Cabeza de Vaca
 Explored southeastern and southwestern part of present day U.S.
 First European to travel across North American continent
 Francisco Coronado
 Explored southwestern region of present day U.S. in search of Seven Golden Cities
 Failed to find gold but discovered strange “shaggy cows” so he returned to Mexico.
Spanish American Society
► Religion
 Missions: religious sanctuaries built to aid in the spread of Christianity to Native Americans
► Junipero [hooneeperoh] Serra (Franciscan priest) established a chain of missions from
San Diego to San Francisco called the El Camino Real (the Royal Highway) – The Spanish
priest tried to end traditional Pueblo religious practices that conflicted with Catholic
beliefs. Some priest beat and whipped Native Americans who defied them.
► Pope’ (Native American religious leader) led an uprising and destroyed most missions in
New Mexico after Spanish priests whipped Native Americans that defied them or God –
more than 17,000
► Commerce and class
 Encomienda (ānkōmyān'dä) system: Spaniards made commissioners over large tracts of land
and several Indian villages; villagers forced to give commissioners a share of their crop (this
started after Cortez defeated the Aztec) abused their power, did not convert to Christianity and
overworked the natives.
 Social classes (The people of Spain’s colonies in the Americas formed a highly structured society
- Birth, income, and education determined a person’s position)
► Peninsulares: upper class of Spanish American society that controlled high-ranking
positions; born in Spain
► Criollos (kree-Oh-yohs): middle class of Spanish American society with some wealth and
authority; born in colonies but parents were pure Spanish
► Mestizos (mĕs-tē'zōs): usually the lower class of Spanish American society that
provided much of the labor; born of mixed Spanish and Native American parentage –
These people provided most of the labor for New Spain’s farms, mines and ranches.
Geography of the Spanish Colonies
Geographic Region
 Most of South and Central America
 Southern parts of North America from Florida to California
Early Settlements/Villages

St. Augustine (1565): Spanish fort/mission built in Florida (formed by the Spanish to protect
French claims of the territoriy)
► Oldest city in North America
 Santa Fe (1609): capital of New Mexico
Mexico (New Spain) and Peru
 Valuable mining operations (gold and silver)
Caribbean Islands
 Valuable sugar plantations
Unpopular settlements

Present day Florida, Gulf States, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California (fewer than 4,000
Spanish by 1700)
The Effects of Colonization on Native Americans
► Indigenous: natives; the original inhabitants of an area
► Death/Disease
 Smallpox, measles, and typhus were the most common diseases
 Almost 50 million Indians inhabited North and South America before Columbus
 Within a few generations, this population diminished by 90%
► Land displacement
 Indians were robbed of their lands
 Thousands fled to the interior regions of North and South America
► Europeanization
 Several Indian tribes embraced European traditions/cultures
 European trade introduced guns, horses, whiskey to Indian tribes
► Slavery/Servitude
► Europeanization
 Several Indian tribes embraced European traditions/cultures
 European trade introduced guns, horses, whiskey to Indian tribes