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Chapter 2: Europe Looks Outward
2.2 Spain’s Empire in the Americas – Section Question  How did Spain establish an empire in the
Americas?
Spanish Conquistadors: Soldier-adventurers called conquistadors set out to explore and conquer the Americas.
They hoped for riches and glory for themselves and Spain.
Hernán Cortés
1. 1519: Sailed from Cuba to Mexico with more than
500 soldiers
2. November 8: Marched into the Aztec capital of
Tenochtitlán.
3. Native Americans joined him because they wanted to
throw off the brutal rule of the Aztecs.
4. The Aztec leader, Moctezuma, offered Cortés gold to
leave.
5. Instead, Cortés took Moctezuma hostage and claimed
all of Mexico for Spain
6. After the Aztecs rebelled and forced the Spaniards to
Francisco Pizarro
1. Copied methods of Cortés
2. 1531: Landed on the coast of Peru to search for the
Incas, who were said to have much gold.
3. September 1532: Led about 170 soldiers into the heart
of the empire
4. Took the Inca ruler, Atahualpa prisoner
5. The Inca people paid a huge ransom to free their ruler.
6. Pizarro instead executed him.
7. November 1533: the Spanish had defeated the Incas
and captured capital city of Cuzco
flee, Cortés returned with a larger force, captured
Tenochtitlan and destroyed it
Why Conquistadors Defeated Native Americans:
1. The Indians’ weapons were no match for the Spaniards armor, muskets, and cannons.
2. Many of the Spaniards were on horseback, which the Native Americans had never before seen.
3. The Native Americans were divided among themselves.
The Spanish Social System
Peninsulares: Spanish colonists born in Spain
1.
2.
Top of the social structure
Most were government officials
Creoles: born in America of two Spanish parents
Many were wealthy merchants and plantation owners
Mestizos: people of Spanish and Indian blood
Could achieve economic success as:
1. ranchers
2. farmers
3. merchants
But could not enter the upper levels of society