How did Britain gain such a large empire? Britain gained such a large empire because they used trade to get to different countries and then they won their wars to gain the land also they had good explorers like Captain James Cook who discovered Australia. One of the ways Britain gained such a large Empire was by fighting wars. For example when Clive of India fought the Indians and the Newab of Bengal to gain the section of land known as Bengal, he fought in two main battles the first called the Battle of Arcot and the second the Battle of Plassey. This helped Britain gain such a large Empire because by fighting and winning these wars they gained more of the land and more power over the people, it gives them more money and riches and they show themselves as the dominant country.
The discovery and exploration of the Americas led to an initially slow but exponentially increasing westward migration by European countries. Among all the countries were England and Spain who colonized the majority of what is now the United States Eastern Coast. Both intrigued by the rumors and stories of gold and riches that beset the new lands they each did their part in western colonization; and not without reciprocal influence. Initial English colonies were established not only with cliché intentions of religious freedom but also with hopes of new economic expansion through agriculture as well as tactical, advantageous military purposes in the ever-present conflict with Spain. Mainly all original westward exploration was due to desires for gold and riches and in the case of the English this was no exception.
This was a costly mistake. The greedy Spaniards wanted the gold and treasure the Aztecs collected. Reid wrote, “Gold, silver, and jewels were what they had sailed all the way from Spain to find” ( 25). Schaffer 2 Another factor contributing to the Aztec’s fall was Spain’s superior weapons. Stein points out, “The Aztecs were known for their skills as warriors.
The Strategic Use of Spanish Technology during the Conquest of Mexico In the 16th century, the kingdom of Spain was the greatest land on the planet, as it dominated the concept of global exploration and colonial expansion. The Spaniards also had another key factor in their favor: technology. When Spanish explorers landed in Mexico in 1519, under an expedition led by the great Hernando Cortes, after seizing Hispaniola and Cuba from the Taino natives in previous years, their technological superiority gave them an edge in toppling these newfound civilizations. While reading Stuart B. Schwartz’s two-sided recollection on the true conquest of Mexico titled Victors and Vanquished, readers will begin to notice how Cortes’s strategic utilization of technology during certain parts of the conquest would help the invading Spaniards successfully overcome the primitive, brute strength of the indigenous Mexica, through the Spanish adaptation of the struggles they faced along the way, and how they benefited from befriending their enemies. In the early, prepatory stages of the conquest, Bernal Diaz, a soldier and companion of Cortes, compared the Spanish leader’s popularity in the New World to that of Alexander the Great in Macedonia, Julius Caesar in Rome, and Hannibal in Carthage.
After an initial wave of conquistadors, Spain advantages was that the military had aided and infected diseases that decimated the native populations and defeated the pre-Columbian civilizations of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Incas. Spain organized a huge imperial system to exploit the land, labor, and mineral wealth of the New World. Their disadvantage was that when they were conquering Maya, because of the Yucatan jungle, their metal weapons would rust. Spain treated the Native American very badly like they were animals. For example, altogether, they execute a large group of people such as the Natives in Cuba, Dominica, and Mexico, and those who weren’t in the massacre was turned into slaves; and those whoever refused to convert to Christianity.
American Holocaust: Columbus and the Conquest of the New World The inhumane and sadistic behavior of Columbus’ men was influenced by both the inherent violence in European society of their time and the opportunity to subject a race of people they thought to be inferior to their control. During Columbus’ lifetime Europe was governed by fanatical religious Christians and greedy rulers who’s main concern was to acquire as much gold and wealth as possible. Slave trade was a popular business at this time. Men, women, and children were captured during raids on tribes throughout Africa and forced into slavery. The Spanish Inquisition occurred at this time as well, in which people that didn’t convert to Catholicism were tortured and killed or put into slavery.
Explain why the USA declared war on Spain in 1898? There are many reasons why America declared war on Spain in 1898, the media; the idea of expanding America and Monroe doctrine were all factors that influenced the war to be declared. The origin of war mainly started in Cuba which had good trade links with America as their economy was dependent on America by exporting tobacco and sugar and also Cuba is really closely allocated to America. America had good trade links with Cuba which is why they gained the sympathy of American businessmen and markets. The USA was influenced to war heavily by Cuba, which was still part of Spain’s American empire, In 1895 Cuba wanted to become independent however it was still under the Spanish control which made it hard to become free.
With the wealth of the Americas Spain was able to finance nearly endless warfare in Europe to protect the Americas and bring Catholicism to the New World. In 1519 the promise for riches was fulfilled by Hernan Cortes’s march into Mexico. His expedition served as the model for Spaniards’ and other Europeans’ expectations that the New world could
Spanish Conquistadors and Middle America Spain's invasion and claim of Middle America had a vast impact on the the land. It completely reworked the fabric of the cultural, economic, and political aspects of the Middle America. Though Spain no longer rules much of Middle America, a permanent mark is left. The Spanish Empire instituted colonies in Middle America and ruled them for hundreds of years. The Monarchy of Spain ruled the land because of Spanish conquistadors who initially staked claim to the land in the name of Spain.
American Imperialism in the Nineteenth Century As a growing nation, the United States felt the need to continue expansion for the benefit of all citizens. Territorial development allows for growth in population and natural resources to produce goods and supply services for prosperity. To acquire or control territories, forcible means would sometimes be used, otherwise known as imperialism. This paper will describe imperialism more intently. Advantages of imperialism will be discussed, as well as some of the disadvantages.