The Spanish Conquest and Pre-Columbian Civilizations

The Spanish Arrival in the Americas (1492)

Christopher Columbus set sail from the port of Palos (Huelva) on 3rd August 1492, heading for the Canary Islands. The expedition comprised three ships (one nao and two caravels) and approximately three hundred men.

They arrived at Guanahani Island in the Bahamas, which Columbus named San Salvador. To impose their sovereignty on the discovered territories, the Catholic Monarchs requested a papal bull from the Pope. The Kingdom of Portugal protested, leading to an agreement: the signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which divided the newly discovered lands between Spain and Portugal.

Pre-Columbian America

When Europeans arrived in the Americas, they encountered diverse inhabitants, known as Amerindians, who possessed distinct cultures collectively referred to as pre-Columbian cultures.

Tribal Cultures

The first people the Spanish encountered in the Antilles were organized into tribes. They lived in humble settlements, often in huts, and were consequently easily subdued.

Mesoamerican Civilizations

On the Yucatan Peninsula and in present-day Guatemala, the Mayan civilization had developed. Furthermore, the Aztec civilization had created a vast empire, subduing many neighboring villages in the central area of present-day Mexico.

South American Civilizations

The Inca Empire was established in South America. It was the largest empire on the whole continent, governed from its capital by an emperor.

The Exploration and Conquest of the Americas

The Crown established the conditions, privileges, honors, and rights of each party involved in the conquest, as well as the division of the riches discovered in the conquered territories. These agreements were often formalized through documents known as Capitulations.

Key Explorations

• In 1513, the explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa crossed the Isthmus of Panama and reached the Pacific Ocean.
• An expedition commanded by Ferdinand Magellan departed from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, initiating the first circumnavigation of the globe.
• Francisco de Orellana explored parts of South America, while Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca explored North America.

Reasons for the Conquest

The rapid success of the Spanish conquest can be attributed to several factors:

• The rivalry between the American cultures (which the Spanish exploited).
• The great difference in technology (especially weaponry and transport).
• Religious beliefs (some indigenous groups initially viewed the Spanish as divine figures).

Stages of the Conquest

1. 1492–1519: The Castilians occupied the Antilles and established some enclaves on the continent.
2. 1519–1521: Hernán Cortés conquered the powerful Aztec Empire.
3. 1531–1533: Francisco Pizarro subdued the great Inca Empire.