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Lesson 3 of 84 · Decolonization

30 XP

The Spanish Conquistadors

🌍Mission Brief #3

The Spanish Conquistadors were a group of explorers and soldiers who played a crucial role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas during the 16th century.

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Then & Now

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The Spanish Conquistadors were a group of explorers and soldiers who played a crucial role in the Spanish colonization of the Americas during the 16th century. Figures such as Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro led expeditions that resulted in the conquest of powerful indigenous empires, including the Aztecs and Incas. The conquistadors were driven by the desire for wealth, glory, and the spread of Christianity. Their encounters with indigenous peoples often resulted in dramatic cultural exchanges, but also in violence and significant population declines among native populations due to disease and warfare, reshaping the demographic landscape of the Americas.

Key Facts

1

Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521.

2

Pizarro led the conquest of the Inca Empire in 1533.

3

The conquistadors were motivated by the three Gs: Gold, Glory, and God.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 2

Who was the conquistador responsible for the fall of the Aztec Empire?

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Why this still matters

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