European colonization of the Americas
Articles in preparation for this course:
The Portuguese voyages of discovery of the World
Portugal was the first European kingdom that in the process of territorial expansion developed an overseas expansion.
Christopher Columbus and the crossing of the Atlantic
Christopher Columbus did everything possible to convince the Castilian monarchy to finance his project to discover a new, faster route to Asia.
Spanish Antilles: conquest and occupation (1492-1519)
The Castilian monarchy began the conquest of the Caribbean islands, organizing the territory and the new power, amid the initial improvisation and chaos.
Aztec Empire: conquest of Hernán Cortés (1519-1521)
Vast territories of Central America were controlled by groups of Castilian conquerors. The surprising fact was that these occupations and conquests were very rapid.
Inca Empire: Pizarro's conquest (1532-1572)
The conquest of the Inca Empire lasted forty years (1532-1572). The first contact between a Spaniard and an Inca was between Pedro de Candía and Huayna Cápac.
Viceroyalty of New Spain: the conquest
In the territories of New Spain, the Spanish conquerors took advantage of the administrative and fiscal structures of the indigenous people to achieve a quick and easy consolidation of the new occupying power.
