European exploration

The purpose of the encomienda system

The intended purpose of the encomienda system was for conquistador's to protect your assigned natives and teach them the Catholic faith. However, in practice, encomienda allowed conquistadors to oppress the natives enslaving them to extract wealth and claim their lands

After the Reconquista

Once the Reconquista was complete, and there were no more infidels to fight, Catholic Spain needed somewhere else to purify. Soon, she set her sights on converting the inhabitants of the New World to her precious faith, and for this task, she sent many of the warriors of the Reconquista. Oddly, the explorers sent to do her bidding are not known to history as missionaries or even evangelists. Instead, history gives them the name conquistador or conqueror.

Hernan Cortes

By 1519, Cortes attacked the city of Tenochtitlan, taking the Aztec leader, Montezuma, captive. All pretenses of evangelism and friendship vanished as each side traded victories. Although the conquistador and his men were greatly outnumbered, they had one secret weapon. They carried the advantage of germs and diseases, which the natives had no immunity towards. In the end, the Aztec people succumbed to Cortes, his men, and his diseases, like measles and small pox. 

How Pizarro conquered the Incans

Just like the Aztecs, the poor Incans thought Pizarro was a deity. Pizarro took advantage of the Incans trust, captured the Incan ruler, Atahualpa, and held him for ransom. After the Incans coughed up the ransom, Pizarro killed their ruler. However, by the time the Incans came to their senses, things had gone from bad to worse. Along with a ton of diseases, Pizarro also had firearms on his side. The conquistador also got the Incans' enemies to join him in the fight.

Cortez vs. Pizarro

 Cortes was born into a noble family. He was a charismatic leader who quickly climbed the ranks of the Spanish military. Upon the request of some higher ups, Cortes was chosen to lead an expedition into Mexico. His mission was to establish a Spanish colony in mainland Mexico.

Pizarro was not of noble birth. Despite his lack of formal training, Pizarro is thought to be one of the most brilliant military strategists of his time, participating in expeditions all over South and Central America.

Open Ended

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