Spain Builds an Empire

1492Seeking another route to the riches of Asia, he traveled west, across the Atlantic Ocean. Although he was Italian, he was sponsored by the King and Queen of Spain. He landed in the West Indies and brought back new discoveries to Spain. He also established the first European colony in the Americas.

Christopher Columbus

On the natives:“They were of an acute intelligence but had no iron or steel weapons. Should your majesties command it, all the inhabitants could be made slaves.”

Treaty of Tordesillas This treaty gave most of the New World to

Spain. Portugal was given Brazil.

The ConquistadorsThe Conquistadors

Conquistador is the Spanish word for conqueror.

Their goal was to explore and to gain as much land and wealth for Spain as possible.

Why did they come??

• Some came for profit.GOLD• Some came to convert Native

Americans to Christianity. (religion)

GOD

• Some came for adventure. GLORY

Spanish Explorers1510-1605

Conquistadors 1. Ponce de Leon: Searched Florida for the Fountain

of Youth.

Conquistadors 2. Hernando Cortes: (1519-1521) Conquered the Aztec Empire and

stole their gold. Tribes that the Aztecs had

conquered joined with Cortes. Disease killed almost all of the

Aztecs.

Conquistadors 3. Francisco Pizarro: (1532-1533) Conquered the Incan Empire. Pizarro ambushed the Incan

emperor, Atahualpa. He killed him and thousands of his men.

The Incan Empire, which had been fighting a civil war, collapsed.

Pizarro stole huge treasures of gold and silver.

Spain in the New World

New World & Old World

A worldwide exchange of goods and ideas

that transformed the world.

A worldwide exchange of goods and ideas

that transformed the world.

The Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchangemaize (corn)potatoessugar canetobacco

horses, cowswheatdiseasereligion

Social Classes in New Spain

PENINSULARE

CREOLE

MESTIZO

INDIAN

Born in Spain. Had the highest government jobs.

Born in the colonies of Spanish parents. Wealthy and well-educated.

Mixed Spanish and Indian blood. Worked on farms or as tailors, carpenters, bakers, etc.

Lowest class. Treated as conquered people and kept in poverty.

Results of Colonization Native

American populations declined drastically due to:• New diseases• Warfare• Harsh conditions

Other Results The deaths of millions of Native

Americans led to a labor shortage.

Where would Spain get the laborers needed for their plantations and mines? Spain filled the shortage

with slaves from Africa.

Las Casas Bartolomé de Las

Casas was a Spanish priest that fought for laws to protect Native Americans.

He was known as “Protector of the Indians”

Other Results New foods introduced to Europe

led to a population increase in Europe.

Spain became a wealthy empire. Other nations (Portugal, France, &

England) also wanted to colonize the New World.

The End