The Discovery and Conquest of the Americas: A Historical Overview

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1. The Discovery

Christopher Columbus, driven by a fervent desire to reach India by crossing the Atlantic Ocean, embarked on a historic voyage financed by the Catholic Monarchs of Spain. The agreement for the expedition was formalized through the Capitulations of Santa Fé.

Setting sail from the port of Palos on August 3rd, 1492, Columbus led a fleet of three ships and a crew of 300 men. Their journey culminated in the sighting of land on October 12th, 1492, marking a pivotal moment in history. Columbus would go on to undertake three more voyages to the New World.

Upon their arrival, the Spanish encountered a diverse tapestry of cultures in Pre-Columbian America. Some societies, with their simple tribal structures and humble settlements, were easily subdued. Others, like the advanced Mesoamerican civilizations, presented a greater challenge.

The Mayan civilization, known for its impressive architectural achievements, had already vanished by the time the conquistadores arrived. The Aztec civilization, centered in its capital of Tenochtitlan, adhered to polytheistic beliefs and practiced ritual sacrifices. In South America, the Inca Empire, with its capital in Cuzco, stood as the largest and most developed civilization in the region. Like the Aztecs, the Incas also worshipped a pantheon of gods.

2. The Conquest

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Next step was the conquest, the crown organised the exploration and conquest of the territories of the Americas with explorers or conquistadores. The reasons of the conquest were several, such as the rivalry between the American cultures, they formed alliances with their enemies or the great difference in technology. Also because of the religious beliefs, they thought that the conquistadores had been sent from the gods. Moreover, the inhabitants of the Aztec and Inca Empires were accustumed to live under authoritarian rulers.
Conquest has different stages, first they occupied the Antilles, Then Hernán Cortés conquered the Aztec Empire and later Pizarro subdued the Great Inca Empire. After, Pedro de Valdivia conquered Chile.
The Spanish continued searching ways of sailing around the recently discovered territories to reach India. Vasco Nuñez de Balboa reached the Pacific Ocean. Juan Sebastián Elcano was the first navigator who travel around the world. Giovanni Caboto reached Newfoundland and Giovanni da Verranazzo explored the Atlantic coast of North America. Pedro Álvarez Cabral discovered the eastern coast of Brazil.
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Cristobal Colon Christopher Columbus Spanish Conquest Inca Empire