J. Kelly Robison

Spanish Colonization of the Americas

  1. Spanish Colonization
    1. Three objectives: Gold, Glory, God
    2. Caribbean
      1. Ferdinand's Letter to the Taino
    3. The Conquest of Mexico
      1. Spain and Aztecs
      2. "Otros Mexico"
        1. Cortes sent out his lieutenants to search for other areas like Mexico
        2. Conquest of Guatemala
          1. Pedro de Alvarado
        3. New Mexico
          1. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
    4. The Conquest of Peru
      1. Inca Civil War
        1. Huayna Capa - the Sapa Inca (high Inca) dies in 1526
        2. Huascar and Atahualpa, sons of Huayna Capa, involved in civil war by 1530
      2. Francisco Pizzaro, takes Inca empire with few men in 1531
    5. The Spanish Empire in the Americas
      1. Government
        1. Spanish government wanted wealth
        2. Hierarchical
      2. Treatment of Natives
        1. Use of Indian Labor
          1. encomienda
          2. repartimiento
        2. Tribute
        3. Conversion
        4. Bartolome de las Casas

Study Questions:

1. Discuss the exploration and colonization of the Americas by Spain. Why did the Spanish explore? What did they do when they encountered the Americas?

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