Conquistadors were Spanish explorers in the 16th century who conquered parts of Latin America, most notably the Aztec and Inca Empires. They killed thousands of native people in battle, enslaved many to work, and unintentionally brought diseases that devastated native populations. Though outnumbered, the conquistadors had technological advantages with guns, steel weapons, and horses. Their conquests resulted in most Latin Americans adopting Spanish as their language and Catholicism as their religion.

1. Conquistadors

2. Conquistador
Explorers from Spain
who wanted to take
over and conquer
parts of Latin America

3. Francisco Pizarro
•Conquistador
who took over
the Inca Empire

4. Inca Empire
•Group of native
people who lived in
the Andes mountains
and were conquered
by Pizarro

5. Hernan Cortes
•Conquistador who
took over the
Aztec Empire

6. Aztec Empire
•Group of native
people who lived in
present day Mexico
and were conquered
by Cortes

7. Reasons why the conquistadors
took over so much of Latin America
• Natural Resources (Gold and Silver)
• To become rich and powerful
• For the Glory of Spain
• To grab land for the Spanish Empire
• To convert the Native people to
Christianity

8. European countries that established
colonies in the Americas
•England
•France
•The Netherlands
•Portugal
•Spain

9. Ways the conquistadors harmed
native American people
• Killing thousands in battle
• Enslaving the population to
work
• Bringing diseases the
Natives couldn’t fight off

10. Two native civilizations the Spanish
wiped out
•Aztecs
•Incas

11. Advantages the Spanish had over
native armies, despite being greatly
outnumbered
•Guns
•Steel swords
•Armor
•Horses

12. Lasting effects of Spanish conquest
in Latin America
•Most people speak
Spanish
•Most people are
Roman Catholic
(Christians)

13. Who
•Explorers from Spain
who wanted to take
over and conquer land
in Latin America

14. What
•Killed thousands
•Enslaved many
•Brought diseases the
Natives couldn’t fight
off

15. When
•1500s
(16th Century)

16. Where
•Mexico-Aztecs
•Western South
America (Andes
Mountains)-Incas

17. Why
•Natural Resources
•Expand Spain’s empire
•Glory
•Spread Christianity

18. How
•Converted most
people to Christianity
•People started
speaking Spanish