Chapter 2, Section 3 – Spain Builds an Empire
Spanish Conquistadors
Spanish soldiers who led military expeditions in
the Americas.
Hernan Cortes
Spanish Conquistador who defeated Montezuma
and the Aztec Empire.
Francisco Pizarro
Spanish Conquistador who defeated the Inca
Empire in 1534.
Aztec Empire
Located in present-day Mexico
Montezuma II
Ruler of the Aztecs.
Tenochtitlan
Capital of the Aztec Empire – located at presentday Mexico City.
Encounter
At first Montezuma thought Cortes was a god.
The Spanish wore armor and rode horses.
Used advanced weapons.
Exposed Aztecs to European diseases.
Inca Empire
Located in South American (Andes Mountains) –
from Ecuador to Chili.
Cuzco
Capital of the Inca Empire.
Encounter
Francisco Pizarro also used armor and advanced
weapons to defeat the Inca Empire.
Spanish Settlements
The Spanish began to establish settlements.
Pueblos
Trading posts – sometimes the centers of
government.
Missions
A settlement with a Catholic church.
Priests attempted to convert Native Americans to
the Catholic faith.
Presidios
Settlements with small forts.
Primary purpose was to protect the Mission.
El Camino Real
A network of roads that connected the
settlements.
Exploring New Spain
Southeast
Juan Ponce de Leon
Explored and settled Puerto Rico
First European to Explore Florida
Searched for the fabled Fountain of Youth
Hernado de Soto
Started his explorations in Florida (Tampa Bay),
and then proceeded to present-day Georgia, and
the Carolinas.
Discovered the Mississippi River
Explored present-day Oklahoma in 1542 – died on
this journey.
Southwest
Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and Panfilo de Narvaez
Both explored Florida and along the Gulf Coast to
Texas
Da Vaca later shipwrecked, but survived
Captured by Native Americans
Escaped after six years of captivity
Returned to Spain and called for better treatment
of the Native Americans.
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Explored present-day New Mexico and Arizona
in 1540
Also explored present-day Colorado and
Oklahoma
Searched for the fabled cities made of gold
Discovered “Shaggy Cows” – Buffalo
Spanish Treatment of Native Americans
Peninsulares
Settlers from Spain – held the highest government
positions in New Spain
Encomienda System
Gave the settlers the right to tax the Native
Americans and force them to work.
Most Spanish settlers treated the Native
Americans as slaves.
Plantations
Large farms that grew one primary crop
Thousands of Native Americans forced to work in
the fields.
Native Americans also forced to work in gold and
silver mines.
200 tons of gold
18,600 tons of silver
Role of the Catholic Church
The Spanish king commanded the priests to
convert the Native Americans to the Catholic
faith.
Bartolomeau de Las Casa
Priest who protested the cruel treatment of the
Native Americans.
Said that the Native Americans should be
converted to Christianity.
Demanded that the Spanish demonstrate their
faith through the kind treatment of the natives.