Conquistadors were Spanish and Portuguese explorers, soldiers, and adventurers. They sailed beyond Europe to conquer lands and open new trade routes. In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries they conquered much of the land for Spain and Portugal.
They stopped looking at the Americas as an obstacle on their journey to Asia and began to claim land and territory for their respective countries.
They stopped looking at the Americas as an obstacle on their journey to Asia and began to claim land and territory for their respective countries.
The Three Most Famous Conquistadors
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Born around 1485, Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who conquered Mexico for Spain. He first set sail to the New World at the age of 19. Cortés later joined an expedition to Cuba. In 1518, he set off to explore Mexico. In 1519 he led 400 men against Aztec Mexico, eventually conquering the capital city of Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City).There he strategically aligned some native peoples against others to overthrow them. King Charles I appointed him governor of New Spain in 1522. Cortés died in Spain in 1547.
(source:http://www.biography.com/people/hern%C3%A1n-cort%C3%A9s-9258320)
(source:http://www.biography.com/people/hern%C3%A1n-cort%C3%A9s-9258320)
In 1524, Pedro de Alvarado led a successful invasion against the Mayan empire, in what is now Guatemala. He was second in command to Hernán Cortés in the expedition for the conquest of Mexico where he occupied the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlán, killing hundreds of natives in the process. Referred to as "Tonatiuh" or "Sun God" by the Aztecs because of his blonde hair and white skin, Alvarado was violent, cruel and ruthless, even for a conquistador for whom such traits were practically a given. After the Conquest of Guatemala, he served as governor of the region, although he continued to campaign until his death in 1541.
(source: http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/theconquestofthemaya/a/08palvaradobio.htm) |
Francisco Pizzaro (1478-1541) was a Spanish conquistador who traveled through much of the Pacific coast of America along Peru. He "discovered" the Incan empire and conquered it brutally and quickly, stealing immense hoards of gold, silver, and other treasures.
Pizarro landed at San Mateo Bay in 1532. After traveling through desert and snow-capped mountains, Pizarro and his 180 men (who included Hernando de Soto) and 37 horses arrived at Cajamarca (in 1533), where they captured Atahuallpa, the 13th and last emperor of the Incas. Atahuallpa had just won a civil war against his half-brother (Huáscar), and had executed Huáscar and his family. Atahuallpa had invited Pizarro to a celebratory feast, thinking that the Spanish were not much of a threat. Pizarro ambushed Atahuallpa and killed thousands of his men. Atahuallpa offered a huge ransom for his own release, but Pizarro took the treasure and had Atahuallpa strangled on Aug. 29, 1533; this was the end of the Incan empire.
After looting and generally destroying the Incan capital of Cuzco, Pizarro founded Lima (which he called Ciudad de los Reyes, which means "City of the Kings"). Pizarro was assassinated in Lima, Peru, in 1541, by followers of Pedro de Almagro (Cortes' captain) who wanted to seize Lima for its riches.
(source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/p/pizarro.shtml)
Pizarro landed at San Mateo Bay in 1532. After traveling through desert and snow-capped mountains, Pizarro and his 180 men (who included Hernando de Soto) and 37 horses arrived at Cajamarca (in 1533), where they captured Atahuallpa, the 13th and last emperor of the Incas. Atahuallpa had just won a civil war against his half-brother (Huáscar), and had executed Huáscar and his family. Atahuallpa had invited Pizarro to a celebratory feast, thinking that the Spanish were not much of a threat. Pizarro ambushed Atahuallpa and killed thousands of his men. Atahuallpa offered a huge ransom for his own release, but Pizarro took the treasure and had Atahuallpa strangled on Aug. 29, 1533; this was the end of the Incan empire.
After looting and generally destroying the Incan capital of Cuzco, Pizarro founded Lima (which he called Ciudad de los Reyes, which means "City of the Kings"). Pizarro was assassinated in Lima, Peru, in 1541, by followers of Pedro de Almagro (Cortes' captain) who wanted to seize Lima for its riches.
(source: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/page/p/pizarro.shtml)