WHAT HAPPENED?
When did the Spanish Conquest begin?
1492 (with Columbus’ arrival in the Americas).
What were the “3 Gs” that motivated Spanish explorers?
Gold, God, and Glory.
How might a Spanish explorer describe the conquest?
As brave exploration and expansion of Christianity.
What happened to the Aztec and Inca empires after conquest?
They collapsed and were taken over by Spain.
What changed politically after the conquest?
Spanish rule replaced Indigenous leadership.
Which two major empires were conquered?
The Aztec Empire and the Inca Empire.
Why were Spain and Portugal exploring new lands?
To find wealth, trade routes, and expand their power.
How might an Aztec or Inca person describe it?
As invasion, destruction, and loss of land and life.
How did disease affect Indigenous populations?
Millions died from smallpox and other diseases.
What economic system replaced Indigenous systems?
Colonial systems like encomienda.
Who led the conquest of the Aztecs?
Hernán Cortés.
How did rivalries between Indigenous groups help the Spanish?
Some groups allied with the Spanish against enemies.
Why do perspectives on the conquest differ?
People experienced the events differently depending on their role and culture.
What religious change occurred after the conquest?
Christianity spread across the Americas.
What was lost when empires fell?
Independence, culture, population, and political power.
Who led the conquest of the Inca Empire?
Francisco Pizarro.
Why did disease play a major role in the conquest?
Europeans brought diseases like smallpox that Indigenous people had no immunity to.
What does it mean to show historical empathy?
To understand how people felt and thought at the time.
What cultural losses occurred?
Languages, traditions, and systems of governance were weakened or destroyed.
Was everything lost? Explain.
No — Indigenous culture, traditions, and identity still survive today.
Why is the Spanish Conquest considered a turning point?
It permanently changed political power, culture, religion, and population in the Americas.
Was the conquest only about greed? Explain.
No — it also involved religion, competition between nations, and political power.
Why is it important to study multiple perspectives of the conquest?
To avoid bias and understand the full impact of the event.
What long-term impact of the conquest can still be seen today?
Spanish language, Catholicism, and colonial political systems.
How does the conquest still influence global inequality today?
Colonial systems shaped wealth distribution and power structures.