conquest & colonies chapter 16: section 2. spain builds an empire after european explorers...

Conquest & ColoniesConquest & Colonies

Chapter 16: Section 2

Spain Builds an Empire

After European explorers reached the Americas, countries began to scramble to establish colonies and empires in the lands they had found.

Among the first countries to successfully settle in the Americas was Spain

They eventually conquered the two greatest native empires of the Americas, the Aztecs and Incas.

Spain in the Caribbean

The first areas settled by the Spanish were Caribbean islands such as Hispaniola and Cuba.

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Spain in the Caribbean

Columbus never found the gold he was looking for.

Spanish introduced encomienda systemencomienda system.– a colonist was given a certain amount of land and a

number of Native Americans to work the land for him.

– In exchange, the colonist was required to teach the native workers about Christianity.

– system became the basis for nearly all Spanish settlements on the mainland as well.

Columbus never found the gold he was looking for.

Spanish introduced encomienda systemencomienda system.– a colonist was given a certain amount of land and a

number of Native Americans to work the land for him.

– In exchange, the colonist was required to teach the native workers about Christianity.

– system became the basis for nearly all Spanish settlements on the mainland as well.

Spain in the CaribbeanSpain in the Caribbean

Negatives of the encomienda system– Terrible for Native Americans– Overwork and mistreatment took a terrible toll on

the native population.

– DiseasesDiseases spread by Europeans. • Smallpox, tuberculosis, measles, and other deadly

diseases had been unknown in the Americas. • Native Americans had no resistance to these illnesses,

and millions died.

Small Pox is a killer…









http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/smallpox-images/

Measles









Tuberculosis



http://www.righthealth.com/topic/Tuberculosis_Pictures/overview/adam_images?img=1

Conquest in MexicoConquest in Mexico

Some Spaniards moved to the mainland to set up colonies. – HernanHernan CortCortezez led an

expedition to Mexico that ended with the conquest of the Aztec Empire.

– conquistador, or conqueror, Spanish military leaders who fought against the native peoples of the Americas.




The Aztecs– Were very powerful

and ruled much of Mexico

– were unpopular with those they had conquered

– Cortes was able to use this lack of popularity to his advantage.



Moctezuma II


Cortez reached the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan

Cortes’ small band of Spanish soldiers was joined by thousands of Native Americans.– They wanted to

defeat the Aztecs.




Why was Cortes successful?– Native American allies– Metal weapons and

heavy armor– Guns– Horses (never seen by

Aztecs)– Diseases weakened

native population



Spanish Conquistador

The Conquest of PeruThe Conquest of Peru

Francisco Pizarro led an expedition to Peru– 10 yrs. after Cortes

defeats Aztecs– He had heard of the

great wealth of Peru’s Inca Empire

– He hoped to win some of that wealth for himself.



The Conquest of PeruThe Conquest of Peru

Inca were weakened by disease.– SmallpoxSmallpox

New emperor, Atahualpa and Pizarro meet (1532)– Pizarro demanded the

emperor convert to Christianity.

– Atahualpa refused• Taken prisoner• Gives fortune in gold and

silver • Spanish kill him and go on

to conquer the empire.



Life in the Spanish Empire



Life in the Spanish EmpireLife in the Spanish Empire

Spain gained control of a huge empire in the Americas– Peru (Inca)– Mexico (Aztecs)

Viceroys selected– each ruled a large

area in the king’s name.



Life in the Spanish EmpireLife in the Spanish Empire

Spanish colonial economy was based on the mining of gold and silver, though farming was also common.

For labor in both mines and on farms, the Spanish enslaved Native Americans.

Disease and mistreatment took a toll on the native population, which dropped by more dropped by more than 90 percent from an estimated 50 than 90 percent from an estimated 50 million to only 4 millionmillion to only 4 million..

Life in the Spanish Empire

Some Spaniards were appalled at the treatment of Native Americans.– Most vocal of reformers

was a priest Bartolome de Las Casas.

– Seeking to protect the Native Americans, Las Casas recommended replacing them as laborers with imported African slaves.

– Slave labor soon became a common practice in the Americas.



BartolomeBartolome de Las Casasde Las Casas

The Portuguese in BrazilThe Portuguese in Brazil

Treaty of Tordesillas– Signed in 1494, drew an imaginary line

through the Atlantic. – Everything to the west of this line, including

most of the then-undiscovered Americas, would belong to Spain.

– Everything to the east would be Portuguese. Of the Americas, only Brazil remained as a Portuguese colony.

Treaty of Tordesillas


are needed to see this picture.Portugal got Portugal got Brazil!Brazil!

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conquest & colonies chapter 16: section 2. spain builds an empire after european explorers...

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