When the greatest Aztec city, Tenochtitlan, was conquered, the first phase of the Spanish conquest was completed. New Spain was established after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire in 1521. The Spanish came to North America because they wanted to spread Christianity overseas and gain riches and wealth. The lands brought under their control were of unprecedented wealth. This was an
How successful were the Spaniards in responding to the challenge of running an overseas empire by 1600? In the 16th century, the Spanish Crown, led by Habsburg Spain, ruled a vast Empire, which included the Americas; the East Indies in Asia; the Low Countries; territories now belonging to France and Germany and various other smaller territories. The union with the Portuguese Empire, under the rule of Phillip II, in 1580 saw Spain become a mighty power in terms of exploration and conquering. The 1492 voyage of Columbus to the ‘New World’ resulted in Conquistadores conquering and colonising the Aztec and Inca Empires of South America. This was made effortless with the aid of the introduction of Smallpox which caused devastation across the native population.
Between 1450 and 1800 both the Ottoman and Spanish empires soared to great heights. Each had impressive resumes with the Ottomans taking the impenetrable Constantinople and the Spaniards discovering the Americas. But while the Spaniards were more focused on building a colonial empire based upon religion in the Americas, the Ottomans were looking to build an empire through brute force that stretched across the continent of Europe worthy to be called the “Third Rome”. When Constantinople fell to the Ottomans in 1453 they solidified themselves as a great power and granted their empire major prestige and influence. From there on they began to expand southward into Africa and farther west into Europe.
Following the Christopher Columbus’ discovery of the Americas, the Spanish has colonized both Central and South America in the 16th century. The Spanish aims and their attitudes had a huge effect on the Americas and their conquests were one of the history’s biggest turning points. Ever since Christopher Columbus discovered America, the aims for the Spanish were to gain control over their riches, land, religion, and resources. For example, the Spanish wanted to exploit gold, spices, and even their people, for slavery. Having heard the rumors of wealth and riches in the Americas, many conquistadors were motivated to have a journey.
The main goals for the Spanish colonies in Latin America is to establish religious freedom and to the formation of Independent countries. Spain’s government tried hard to govern the New World using a system of viceroyalties and audiencias, royal courts of appeals. The Spanish monarchy was able to exercise control over Spanish settlers. The crown was entitled to one-fifth of all mining profits and this huge income helped Spain to become the largest and most powerful empire in Europe by the
Late 15th C. Spain became united and due to the fact that the Portuguese controlled trade routes in Africa and Asia they looked west. Christopher Columbus, exploring in the name of Spain, discovered the Bahamas in 1492. Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided SA land between Spain and Portugal. Balboa discovered the Pacific Ocean while Magellan circumnavigated the globe. Leon explored Florida and Coronado explored Arizona and New Mexico.
The European powers managed to conquer all of the Americas and spread their influence throughout the world. Using culture and religion to conquer many peoples and exploit them to the fullest of their ability. One could ask, how the world would be different if the Europeans hadn’t discovered the Americas? We’ll never know. ----------------------- [1] Games, Alison F. and Adam Rothman, Major Problems in Atlantic History.
Imperialism was used back in 1850-1914 by the Spaniards to become more powerful than they were. As the United States saw that Spain was becoming stronger than them, they reacted. That was the beginning of imperialism for the United States and this made islands such as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and other become part of the United States. Countries disagreed with the Spanish agenda. One of the countries affected was the Philippines.
Discuss the goals of British, French and Spanish exploration in North America and the means by which each nation attempted to achieve them.” The Age of Exploration began in the late 15th Century, as European nations, having the ocean technology, began to see the potential of the New World. The massive territories, countless riches, and experienced native peoples, meant that a claim in the Americas could easily boost a nation’s wealth, status and reputation. The European powerhouses; Great Britain, France and Spain each had their goals set for exploration and conquest in the New World. Each set out to create a name for themselves on American soil, and as the competition increased between the nations, violence often broke out. The Columbus’ voyage in 1492 convinced Spain that it could dominate the New World.
The industrial revolution that started earlier in the century, continued to change America. The country was far from done adjusting to its new form of government. People from other countries fled to the united states to seek political and religious freedom and economic prosperity. Blacks and Native Americans